WATCH: Solar flares spark biggest geomagnetic storm in 20 years
People have captured stunning images and videos of spectacular displays of auroras, or northern lights, caused by huge solar flares.
Africa Melane speaks to Carl Lindemann, former board member of the Astronomical Society of Southern Africa.
The biggest geomagnetic storm (aurora borealis) in more than 20 years occurred in the Northern Hemisphere a few days ago.
What's an aurora borealis?
Auroral displays occur when charged particles collide with gases in the Earth's atmosphere around the magnetic poles.
Lindermann explains that 'it's the Earth's protective shield fending off dangerous radiation' and this time it came in 'roaring.'
Auroras display dynamic and breathtakingly beautiful patterns of brilliant lights that appear as curtains, rays, spirals, or dynamic flickers covering the entire sky.
Solar flares sparked the biggest geomagnetic storm in two decades, causing spectacular displays of auroras, or northern lights, in skies visible across large parts of the UK, including Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and, unusually, southern England.
Watch these spectacular skies below.
(Footage produced by international media house, 5News on YouTube).
Unfortunately, South Africans won't be able to see this spectacular display because we are too far south.
"If you look at the sun through a telescope with a filter, it looks like it's got a bad case of acne. It's spitting out these particles into space and when they hit the Earth, they hit the Earth's force field. We have a magnetic field around us to protect us... where the particles hit, since the Earth is a magnet, a mirror image of that will happen on the other side of the planet, in the Southern Hemisphere."
- Carl Lindemann, Former member - Astronomical Society of Southern Africa
Lindemann has been fortunate enough to see two spectacular aurora borealis in his lifetime, which he recalls was 'quite startling'.
"It's quite startling. It's sort of like going to a planetarium and they have a laser light show with shimmering colour lights sweeping across the sky. It's like that and it's quite startling."
- Carl Lindemann, Former member - Astronomical Society of Southern Africa
Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the full conversation.