LONDON -- Sky gazers from across the UK are posting photos they snapped Wednesday night during a breathtaking display of the northern lights, otherwise known as the aurora borealis.。

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The spectacle is caused by charged solar particles interacting with the Earth's magnetic field and is usually only visible in the UK from the far north of Scotland and Northern Ireland.。

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However, the Earth is currently being slammed by fast-particles shot out by the sun and that means the northern lights were visible further south, in Devon for example, despite the haze. 。Mashable Light SpeedWant more out-of-this world tech, space and science stories?Mashable Light SpeedWant more out-of-this world tech, space and science stories?Sign up for Mashable's weekly Light Speed newsletter.。

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Usually, the northern lights stay pretty close to the poles, but during a solar storm — also known as a geomagnetic storm — the lights can be visible in lower latitudes due to the way the storm perturbs Earth's magnetic field. 

Here are some of the most stunning pictures taken by aurora watchers in the UK:。

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A couple of beams from the Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis appear in the sky over St Mary's Island near Whitley Bay, Northumberland.Credit: PA Wire/PA Images。

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