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Northern Lights sparkle across the West Midlands

Andrew Fusek Peters Northern Lights over the Stiperstones in Shropshire. Sheets of red and yellow appear in the sky over a rocky hilltop crag on an otherwise clear nightAndrew Fusek Peters
The view above Stiperstones, Shropshire, was gorgeous

There was a stunning display of colour on Thursday night as the Northern Lights put on a show.

According to BBC Weather, it was the strongest and most widespread exhibition of the phenomenon in the UK since May.

However, we are unlikely to get such a show in the Midlands on Friday, as solar activity is expected to weaken.

Here are some of the best examples of photos from across the region.

sabphotos69 / BBC Weather Watchers Red, yellow and green colours splash the sky, casting a lone tree in a field in silhouettesabphotos69 / BBC Weather Watchers
Enville, Staffordshire
Otto the dog / BBC Weather Watchers Splashes of red smudge the sky, with a house and trees in silhouette belowOtto the dog / BBC Weather Watchers
Walsall
Josh / BBC Weather Watchers Sheets of red run diagonally through the sky, with a house and hillside in the foregroundJosh / BBC Weather Watchers
Malvern, Worcestershire

From about 19:00 BST many people were able to see the Northern Lights, also called the aurora borealis.

Not everyone in the region could see the display, which was often clearer on cameras than with the naked eye.

The phenomenon is caused when charged particles from the sun hit gases in the Earth's atmosphere around the North poles.

Jack March / BBC Weather Watchers Red waves of light streak across most of the night sky, with the glimmer of some stars piercing though. At the bottom of the image, towards the centre, is the silhouette of two trees standing above the rest of the skylineJack March / BBC Weather Watchers
Stockingford, Warwickshire
Eric / BBC Weather Watchers Red and green colours fill the sky, with the red at the top merging into the green, over treetopsEric / BBC Weather Watchers
Bloxwich
Andrew Fusek Peters Northern Lights over Walcot Lake in Shropshire. Red and yellow colours fill the sky, reflecting in the lake below, which is fringed with a wood and fieldsAndrew Fusek Peters
Walcot Lake, Shropshire

Views of the northern Lights have become more common in the UK in recent years.

How far south they can be seen is determined by the level of solar activity.

The lowest part of an aurora is typically 50 miles (80 km) above the Earth's surface. The highest part could be 150 miles (800km) above the Earth.

Phil Harrison / BBC Weather Watchers The city centre of Worcester lit up below, with red and yellow colours dancing above itPhil Harrison / BBC Weather Watchers
Worcester
Snaphappydave / BBC Weather Watchers Streaks of red in the sky, with trees silhouetted against the skySnaphappydave / BBC Weather Watchers
Kinver, Staffordshire

Thursday night's display was caused by a G5 solar storm - the highest on the 1-5 scale.

But such storms can also interfere with satellites and power grids around the world.

The Northern Lights have been visible several times during the year.

If you want to take photos of them, meteorologists advise using a long exposure camera.

Graham's Vista / BBC Weather Watchers Red, purple and yellow lights in the sky seem to converge on a tree rtowards the bottom of the photoGraham's Vista / BBC Weather Watchers
Sutton Coldfield
CaineWolf / BBC Weather Watchers A sheet of red in the sky merges into green below, with several stars surrounding the northern lights and the tops of trees cast in silhouetteCaineWolf / BBC Weather Watchers
Wolverhampton

We love to feature your photographs from across the West Midlands.

Upload your images via BBC Weather Watchers or email us at [email protected].

For inspiration, view some top tips from three of England's Big Picture photographers.

Follow for more pictures on Instagram from BBC Birmingham, BBC Coventry & Warwickshire, BBC Hereford & Worcester, BBC Shropshire, BBC Stoke & Staffordshire and BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country.

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