People across the United Kingdom were stunned by the Northern Lights this weekend.

The colorful lights filled the sky on Friday and Saturday evenings, the BBC reported. They are usually seen only near the Arctic Circle and in northern Scotland. But strong solar activity meant they could be seen as far south as Devon, Hampshire and Kent on Saturday night.

The Met Office, Britain's weather service, said sightings could continue during clear skies until Tuesday, The Guardian reported, especially across Scotland and northern areas.

The Northern Lights, also called the aurora borealis, happen when charged particles from the sun hit Earth's magnetic field and upper atmosphere. The particles collide with gases such as oxygen and nitrogen, which then glow green, pink, red or purple. Bigger bursts from the sun, called geomagnetic storms, push the lights farther from the poles.

The sun is near the peak of its roughly 11-year activity cycle, which has brought more frequent and stronger auroras in recent years. In May 2024, a powerful storm made the lights visible across much of Europe and the U.S.

Tips for seeing the lights include finding a dark spot away from city lights, looking north and giving your eyes time to adjust. Phone cameras often pick up colors more clearly than the naked eye, so many people share photos that look brighter than what they saw.

Cloud cover is the biggest obstacle, so checking the forecast helps.

Space weather forecasters, including the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, track solar storms to warn about auroras and possible effects on satellites and power grids.

What we know: the aurora was seen as far south as Devon, Hampshire and Kent.
What we don't: whether clear skies will allow more sightings through Tuesday.