According to CNN, this expansion of one of nature's most dazzling spectacles was made possible when a flare of solar energy hit Earth a few days ago and caused a geomagnetic storm that resulted in the Northern Lights illuminating skies at lower latitudes than usual.

Visibility is expected to continue through Wednesday, based on calculations from the United Kingdom's Met Office, which said there could be a "rather active period of geomagnetic activity.".

According to NASA, the Northern Lights are caused by collisions between fast-moving particles (electrons) from space and the oxygen and nitrogen gas in our atmosphere.