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Northern lights illuminate skies over France: weekend photos
Pink and purple displays reported from Normandy to Occitanie
Northern lights were visible across parts of France on the night of October 10, with pink and purple displays reported from Normandy to Occitanie.
The rare spectacle followed a geomagnetic storm triggered by activity on the Sun, with sightings also reported in Belgium, Germany and the UK.
Photographs shared online showed pink, violet and magenta colours spreading across the night sky in several French departments.
Reports included Marchésieux in Manche, Robertot in Seine-Maritime and Gombergean in Loir-et-Cher. Fainter displays were also reported in Hauts-de-France and Hérault.
The phenomenon occurs when electrically charged particles from the Sun interact with gases in the Earth's upper atmosphere, producing light.
Hauts de France
Normandy
Bourgogne-Franche-Comté
How to photograph the northern lights
Auroras can be difficult to see with the naked eye, particularly in areas affected by light pollution. A smartphone or camera using a long exposure can reveal colours that are less apparent when looking at the sky directly.
For the best chance of seeing them, find a dark location away from streetlights and check the sky when conditions are clear. Even during a geomagnetic storm, sightings are not guaranteed.
