THE Aurora Borealis, or the Northern Lights, were spotted in the skies of Bournemouth last night. 

A purple glow was spotted by some residents “dancing across the skies” in Dorset on Tuesday night, April 16. 

The phenomenon is caused by electrically charged particles from the sun travelling millions of miles getting caught in the earth’s magnetic field. 

These particles accelerate down towards the north and south poles into the atmosphere, which essentially heats them up and creates the effect. 

Bournemouth Echo: Northern Lights in BournemouthNorthern Lights in Bournemouth (Image: @MetJayy on Twitter)

Bournemouth Echo: Lights over Crossways near DorchesterLights over Crossways near Dorchester (Image: Kevin Dibben, Camera Club member)

Bournemouth Echo: Lights over DorchesterLights over Dorchester (Image: Sarah Stockham, Camera Club member)

Bournemouth Echo: Northern Lights over West BayNorthern Lights over West Bay (Image: West Bay Photography, Camera Club member)

Bournemouth Echo: West BayWest Bay (Image: West Bay Photography, Camera Club member)

Also, the different colours in the atmosphere are caused by different gases burning as part of this process with green being characteristic of oxygen while hints of purple, blue or pink are caused by nitrogen, according to Royal Museums Greenwich. 

Krista Hammond, manager at the Met Office Space Weather Operations Centre, said: “Over the coming years, as we continue towards the solar maximum, we can expect to see an increase in the frequency of space weather events, with more chances to see the Aurora Borealis over the UK.”