Scotland last night: Spectacular display of Aurora Borealis

The Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, put on an impressive show in Scotland last night, Monday November 28th.

The Northern Lights were seen by several people across parts of Scotland including Aberdeenshire, Moray, Shetland and the Highlands on Monday night.

We received a spectacular array of photographs, including from one user who captured the above shot from outside her house in Talmine, northern Sutherland in the Scottish Highlands.

The prime viewing conditions were due to the clear skies overhead, but also a Kp-index of 5 for that night. A Kp5 index is classed as a minor geomagnetic storm.

The Kp-index is the global geomagnetic activity index, which describes the disturbance of the Earth's magnetic field, ranging from 0 to 9. In order to catch this magical phenomenon, certain conditions need to align, including a decent Kp forecast.

There also needs to be fairly low cloud cover and you need to be away from light pollution. They most commonly occur between 60 and 75 degrees of latitude, but Scotland and northern England occasionally sneak in there.

The next time the Kp-index is looking strong is Wednesday night, November 30th, with a current forecast of Kp-5 again. However, the weather doesn't seem to be playing ball, with extensive cloud and rain in the forecast. Maybe next time!