Earlier this week, the most powerful solar flare in 20 years hit the Earth's atmosphere, and the results have been pretty goddamn spectacular.

Tom White / PA WIRE

These photos show Castlerigg stone circle in the Lake District, with Blencathra and Skiddaw in the background.

Tom White / PA WIRE

And here's the display over Derwentwater, near Keswick, in the Lake District.

Owen Humphreys / PA WIRE

Tam Mullen / SWNS.com

Here's the scene in Sutherland, on the northern coast of Scotland.

Maciej Winiarczyk / Ross Parry / SWNS

The displays were caused by something called a coronal mass ejection – a stream of charged particles spat out by the sun. When it hit our atmosphere, it resulted in a supercharged display of the Northern Lights, aka the aurora borealis.

The displays were caused by something called a coronal mass ejection – a stream of charged particles spat out by the sun. When it hit our atmosphere, it resulted in a supercharged display of the Northern Lights, aka the aurora borealis.

Maciej Winiarczyk / Ross Parry / SWNS

Did you capture any spectacular shots of the Northern Lights? Please send them in to us at @BuzzFeedUK.

The Northern Lights Over The UK Last Night Were Pretty Amazing

Earlier this week, the most powerful solar flare in 20 years hit the Earth's atmosphere, and the results have been pretty goddamn spectacular.

These photos show Castlerigg stone circle in the Lake District, with Blencathra and Skiddaw in the background.

And here's the display over Derwentwater, near Keswick, in the Lake District.

Here's the scene in Sutherland, on the northern coast of Scotland.

The displays were caused by something called a coronal mass ejection – a stream of charged particles spat out by the sun. When it hit our atmosphere, it resulted in a supercharged display of the Northern Lights, aka the aurora borealis.

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