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In pictures: Northern Lights stun sky watchers

Anita/BBC News NI Weather Watcher Green, red white and yellow beams of light can be seen across the night sky. Below is the silhouette of a person watching can beAnita/BBC News NI Weather Watcher
A sky watcher takes in the spectacle in Rossglass, County Down

Skies in Northern Ireland were lit up in a spectacular display of the Northern Lights on Thursday night.

The Northern Lights, also known as the aurora borealis, are vibrant light displays that occur in the sky, usually near the polar regions.

The lights were visible in Northern Ireland due to a geomagnetic storm.

Photos from sky watchers show the dazzling lights illuminating skies across the country.

Waringsnapper/BBC News NI Weather Watcher Red and green streams of light are visible in the clear night sky surrounded by stars. A brown house with white windows sits below surrounded by trees.Waringsnapper/BBC News NI Weather Watcher
Aurora borealis light up the sky in Waringstown, County Armagh
Rachel Sloan/BBC News NI Weather Watcher A mix of red yellow orange and green lights are scattered across the clear night sky with stars also visible. Below are black silhouettes of trees.Rachel Sloan/BBC News NI Weather Watcher
A stunning contrast of colours seen from Lisburn on Thursday night
Sharon Cuatriz/BBC News NI Weather Watcher Green and red beams of light are visible in a purple sky with stars above a lake. Below a number of people take photos on phones and cameras.Sharon Cuatriz/BBC News NI Weather Watcher
Spectacular skies above Oxford Island
Ruby/BBC News NI Weather Watcher Red and green beams of light streak across the clear night sky with stars visible. Below are the black silhouettes of tree tops. Ruby/BBC News NI Weather Watcher
Glorious display of lights seen from Baranailt Limavady
Eve/BBC News NI Weather Watcher Purple beams of light streak across the night sky, with a scattering of stars and clouds. Below are the dark silhouettes of trees, bushes and houses. Eve/BBC News NI Weather Watcher
Purple skies above Belleek, County Fermanagh
Ken Cox/BBC News NI Weather Watcher A mix of red and green lights can be seen scattered across the clear night sky, with stars also visible. Below is a beach with golden sand.Ken Cox/BBC News NI Weather Watcher
Dazzling display of the Northern Lights over Portstewart Strand on Thursday night
Vicky/BBC News NI Weather Watcher Green and red beams light up the night sky above the sea. A row of lights can be seen in the distance.Vicky/BBC News NI Weather Watcher
An illuminating display of red and green above Holywood, County Down
Johnny/BBC News NI Weather Watcher Two purple beams of light can be seen in the night sky with stars and clouds. Below there are scattered lights, grass, mountains and a silver gate.Johnny/BBC News NI Weather Watcher
Purple lights dominate the sky in Gillygooley, Omagh