THE Northern Lights made a rare appearance last night - with many people capturing the stunning sight in Herefordshire. 

Excited onlookers shared pictures of the lights, also known as aurora borealis, which was visible from about 11.30pm on Friday (May 10).

It was one of the strongest geomagnetic storms for years to hit Earth, with the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issuing a rare solar storm warning.

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If you didn't get to see the rare phenomenon, there is a slight chance you could get a glimpse tonight (May 11), although it will be on a much reduced scale, with northern parts of the UK getting the best view.

Your pictures

Hereford

Hereford Times: Northern Lights in HerefordNorthern Lights in Hereford (Image: Fern Pinwell)

Hereford Times: An excited Alby Bibin watching the lights in HerefordAn excited Alby Bibin watching the lights in Hereford (Image: Alby Bibin)

Hereford Times: Olivia McCabe snapped this photo in HerefordOlivia McCabe snapped this photo in Hereford (Image: Olivia McCabe)

Hereford Times: Nathan Hodges saw the lights from near Hereford Livestock MarketNathan Hodges saw the lights from near Hereford Livestock Market (Image: Nathan Hodges)

Hereford Times: Lisa Sullivan captured the moment in Bobblestock, HerefordLisa Sullivan captured the moment in Bobblestock, Hereford (Image: Lisa Sullivan)

Hereford Times: The Northern Lights seen from Tupsley, HerefordThe Northern Lights seen from Tupsley, Hereford (Image: Andrew Jones)

Leominster

Hereford Times: The Northern Lights in LeominsterThe Northern Lights in Leominster (Image: Richard Boho)

Stoke Lacy

Hereford Times: A stunning photo near Stoke LacyA stunning photo near Stoke Lacy (Image: Laura French Jones)

Hereford Times: Laura Lowe showed what seeing the Northern Lights meant to herLaura Lowe showed what seeing the Northern Lights meant to her (Image: Laura Lowe)

Pembridge

Hereford Times: The Northern Lights in PembridgeThe Northern Lights in Pembridge (Image: Natassja Guinsberg)

Moreton Jeffries

Hereford Times: A stunning photo of the northern lights in Moreton JeffriesA stunning photo of the northern lights in Moreton Jeffries (Image: Julia Lewis)

Breinton

Hereford Times: Lorne Wilden saw the Auroro Borealis for the first time from Breinton Springs footpathLorne Wilden saw the Auroro Borealis for the first time from Breinton Springs footpath (Image: Lorne Wilden)

Dinedor

Hereford Times: Gabriel Nascimento took this photo in DinedorGabriel Nascimento took this photo in Dinedor (Image: Gabriel Nascimento)

Brockhampton

Hereford Times: The Northern Lights in BrockhamptonThe Northern Lights in Brockhampton (Image: Paula Lewis)

Bromyard

Hereford Times: The Northern Lights in BromyardThe Northern Lights in Bromyard (Image: Lisa Denton)

Kington

Hereford Times: A beautiful red colour descended over Hergest Croft Gardens in KingtonA beautiful red colour descended over Hergest Croft Gardens in Kington (Image: Sarah Morgan)

Kings Caple

Hereford Times: The Northern Lights in Kings CapleThe Northern Lights in Kings Caple (Image: Sophie Hannah)

Lea

Hereford Times: This was taken in Lea, near Ross-on-WyeThis was taken in Lea, near Ross-on-Wye (Image: Alex Lea Rohan)

Moccas

Hereford Times: The stunning Northern Lights in Moccas, in the Golden ValleyThe stunning Northern Lights in Moccas, in the Golden Valley (Image: Julia)

What are the Northern Lights?

The Northern Lights - or aurora borealis - appear as bright, swirling curtains of lights in the night sky and range in colour from green to pink and scarlet.

It is caused by charged particles from the sun hitting gases in the Earth's atmosphere.

The colours occur due to different gases in the Earth's atmosphere being energised by the charged particles.

The two most common gases in the Earth's atmosphere are nitrogen and oxygen. Oxygen atoms glow green - the colour most often seen in the Northern Lights, while nitrogen atoms emit purple, blue and pink.

The most impressive auroras occur when the Sun emits really large clouds of particles called "coronal mass ejections".