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Aurora Borealis and Australis turned the world green for St Patrick's Day

Mother Nature shrouded both the northern and southern hemispheres in candescent green light last night, almost as if celebrating St Patrick's Day herself.

Photographers who stayed up until the early hours were treated to a stronger than usual display of the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) and Aurora Australis (Southern Lights).

Aurora are caused by eruptions on the surface of the sun and according to Craig Snell of the Met Office, this week's was the "biggest solar flare that has come to earth in the last 19 to 20 years".

Here are some of the best photos from around the world:

Cumbria, UK

Picture: PA

Estonia

Picture: Rex

Stockholm, Sweden

Ruka, Finland

Minnesota, US

Ontario, Canada

Alaska, US

Picture: Rex

Perth, Australia

Dunedin, New Zealand

Space

More: The 10 best places you can watch the Northern Lights

More: Everything looks better from space

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