PHOTOS: Spectacular Northern Lights captured over France last night
Impressive show came alongside meteor shower and lit up skies as far south as Lyon
The lights had a purple tint, due to the intensity of the solar flare which caused them. Photo for illustrative purposes only
Paolo Bruschi/Shutterstock
Sky-gazers in parts of France were once again treated to a spectacular showing of the Northern Lights yesterday night (August 12).
A solar flare caused the lights to be particularly powerful, especially in Brittany and the north of France.
However, the lights were visible as far south as Lyon and in parts of the Alps.
The skies had a noticeably purple tint to them, due to the specificity of the solar flare.
People rushed to social media to post photos.
The Northern Lights have been visible multiple times this year in France, with some of the most powerful solar flares in decades bringing the lights to areas as far south as the Mediterranean coast in May.
Read more: PHOTOS: Northern Lights stun in skies across southern France
The lights coincided with the Perseids meteor shower, which whilst at its brightest over the weekend, will still be visible for a few more days.
Last weekend was also the nuits des étoiles (night of the stars), a nationwide event encouraging people to look up into the night sky, which this year celebrated famous astronomer Hubert Reeves after his death in October 2023.
You can read our interview with Mr Reeves, first published in 2018, where he speaks about astronomy, climate change, and his upbringing in rural Canada, below.
Read more: Our interview with the creator of France's summer stargazing extravaganza
