Night owls in the Okanagan were in for quite the treat last night.

The Northern Lights made a rare appearance in the region, although it doesn’t feel as rare lately because it’s the second time they’ve been on display in the Okanagan this month.
 

More officially known as aurora borealis, the incredible phenomenon happens when charged electrons and protons collide with gases in the Earth’s upper atmosphere.

“Those collisions produce tiny flashes that fill the sky with colourful light,” explains the Canadian Space Agency. “As billions of flashes occur in sequence, the auroras appear to move or ‘dance’ in the sky.”

As you might expect, many Okanagan residents braved the chilly evening to capture photos and videos of the colourful, magical sky.

We scoured Instagram for some of our favourites to share with you!