LONDON -- Aurora hunters were handsomely rewarded Wednesday night across the UK and Ireland as the greens, pinks and purples of the natural phenomenon illuminated the October night sky.
The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration had earlier Wednesday forecast a strong geomagnetic storm - meaning the conditions were perfect for a spectacular display.
Those who stayed up into the early hours of Thursday morning got the best show with clear skies in some areas, treating photographers to picture-perfect moments.
England
@metoffice @VirtualAstro stunning on Hadrian's Wall earlier this evening ! pic.twitter.com/o9kLUWpIqZ— Cain Scrimgeour (@cainscrimgeour) October 7, 2015
@VirtualAstro RT: #NorthernLights and @IronMenCrosby at Crosby beach, Liverpool, tonight :-) #aurora Pic: @Gavtraff pic.twitter.com/jcN4xtA89g”— Alfred the OK (@AlfredTheOK) October 7, 2015
Scotland
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@virtualastro quite simply the greatest I've seen in Scotland, all taken close to home in Lanark, over 3hr period. pic.twitter.com/L3siaMoMaz— Stuart Stevenson (@StevensonStuart) October 8, 2015
Aurora over Staffin on Skye tonight!! @SeanBattySTV @VirtualAstro pic.twitter.com/ToGLgSbw6O— Alexander Macaskill (@alexmacas) October 7, 2015
RT “@Wild_Scotland: Last night's amazing #aurora dancing above Stirlingshire @metoffice @BBCBreakfast pic.twitter.com/9B5Uj37YHA”— Brian Ferguson (@brianjaffa) October 8, 2015
Aurora so bright in the Scottish Borders I could see it reflected in Alemoor reservoir near Hawick pic.twitter.com/UKTYdhgPIC— Sam Cornwell (@Samcornwell) October 7, 2015
From Port Glasgow tonight @SeanBattySTV @VirtualAstro amazing display!! pic.twitter.com/q2fs8ZjlDP— Louise Gault (@louisegault) October 7, 2015
@VirtualAstro .. This is the #auroraborealis from #Islay looking across to #Jura this evening @BBCScotlandNews pic.twitter.com/XpfK84gBSI— liberalisland (@LiberalIsland) October 7, 2015
Time for bed- happy wth little drive to see aurora earlier :) Kids 1st time too #Aurora @VirtualAstro @aurorawatchuk pic.twitter.com/nHiofwgq30— ScotlandsMountains (@steamingboots) October 7, 2015
Wales
@metoffice here's my effort https://t.co/Voy6slJbZL pic.twitter.com/V4krk93L1t— Grande Le Onion (@grandeleonion) October 7, 2015
Amazing display of Aurora Borealis Northern Lights from North Cumbria. @newsandstar @VirtualAstro @TamithaSkov pic.twitter.com/o4FVIS24re— Stuart Walker (@StuWalkerPhotos) October 7, 2015
Pembrokeshire, Wales #Aurora #wahoo @VirtualAstro @Cmdr_Hadfield @BBCWalesNews @VisitPembs @PembsCoast pic.twitter.com/Q5uMsLgRw0— Drew Buckley (@drewbphoto) October 7, 2015
Amazing Aurora again last night @RCTCouncil @BBCWalesNews @WalesOnline @LeightonAndrews @RhonddaBryant @radiojagger pic.twitter.com/WU1TTIuDFJ— Allan Trow (@AlDarkSkyWales) October 8, 2015
Northern Ireland
@VirtualAstro Aurora from Craigavon, Co Armagh. pic.twitter.com/Ahvej9LRrp— Paul Wharton (@paulwharton1970) October 8, 2015
@barrabest @WeatherCee @bbcnewsline @ILoveNorthCoast @officialcoolfm @VirtualAstro last nights aurora from Dunluce. pic.twitter.com/ZtOi6PQuzW— Jason Murphy (@Jason_Murphy73) October 8, 2015
Aurora over Ballintoy last night @barrabest @WeatherCee @Aurora_ireland @EventsCwayCoast @CanonUKandIE @BobandBerts pic.twitter.com/g3M3wOFnW6— Ken Cox (@coxcom15) October 7, 2015
Aurora mixed with frustrating Armagh rain clouds! Such a display!! It was raining during this shot! pic.twitter.com/ennOeKrGel— Hibernia Landscapes (@Hiberniaphoto) October 7, 2015
Sister got to see Northern Lights at Corrymeela @barrabest pic.twitter.com/sI70CHcd7y— Ciarán Armstrong (@Ciaran1471) October 7, 2015
@barrabest @WeatherCee View of aurora from outside the kitchen window tonight before the clouds #bt45 #magherafelt pic.twitter.com/uJzoQvLjJS— steve gourley (@sgourl) October 7, 2015
Ireland
#Aurora Doagh Rosguill #Donegal #Awesome Great structure, curtains & fast movement pic.twitter.com/6ByNPkk9ye— Daragh McDonough (@DaraghDonegal) October 8, 2015
Yay the Aurora made it to Kerry tonight :) @Aurora_ireland @Aurora_Alerts @photos_astro @gokerrylive @DiscoverIreland pic.twitter.com/iOUYPmSRe7— Caroline Flynn (@_CarolineFlynn) October 8, 2015
#auroraborealis #carburycastle #kildare @Aurora_ireland @RalphMckeon pic.twitter.com/DK0672yt1z— Adrian Leech (@peachie15) October 8, 2015
#Donegal #Inishowen #Aurora #Dunree Great start to the season @DonegalDaily @donegalpage pic.twitter.com/PuyFaEfzGO— justin maclochlainn (@jmacrock) October 7, 2015
@metoffice Taken tonight from Grainan Fort in Co.Donegal Over looking Lough Swilly, #Ireland ! #NorthernLights pic.twitter.com/Nsl0bxVuRU— Sean Campbell (@SCampbell2010) October 7, 2015
#Aurora over Ramelton in #Donegal tonight. Great to see it back! @Aurora_ireland pic.twitter.com/Le3F1o9SKs— Pajo (@PAJO23) October 7, 2015
Until next time, Aurora Borealis. We'll be waiting.