Northern lights put on a show across the region

GRAND FORKS — It was a perfect night to take in the gorgeous sights of the northern lights on Saturday, as people from across the region headed out into the country to get just the right view of the aurora.

Share your pictures of the northern lights with the Herald by emailing them to Managing Editor Sydney Mook at smook@gfherald.com

The northern lights, or aurora borealis, are a colorful display of light sometimes seen in the night sky in the northern hemisphere, according to the Canadian Space Agency . They also occur in the southern hemisphere where they are aptly called the "southern lights," or aurora australis.

The auroras form when "charged particles (electrons and protons) collide with gases in the Earth's upper atmosphere," the Canadian Space Agency says.

Those collisions cause small flashes that light up the sky.

"As billions of flashes occur in sequence, the auroras appear to move or 'dance' in the sky," the agency said.

There may be another chance to catch the aurora again from about 10 p.m. Sunday to 1 a.m. Monday, but National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's aurora forecast shows the lights may be weaker this time.