IN PICTURES: The Northern Lights illuminate the December sky

The Northern Lights have illuminated the night sky across the north and north-east in their first appearance this December.

The Aurora Borealis, also known as nature’s ultimate light show, are one of nature’s most wonderous phenomenon.

They have been making consistent appearances across the Highlands, Moray and Aberdeenshire at night in recent months.

Eager residents are always on hand to capture the bursts of green, teal and purple colours that lit up the cold, dark night sky.

This time around the lights made an appearance relatively early in the evening at around 6pm on Friday, December 1, usually people have to wait until later to see the full show.

Here are some of the best photos of the Northern Lights captured by residents.

Northern lights Glenelg with Ollie the dog — Ollie in Glenelg. Image: Trish Brewster.

Tarves lights — Tarves. Image: Nicole McWhirter.

Pitmedden sky — Pitmedden. Image: Linda Smart Jones.

Crovie sky — Crovie. Image: Lisa Wyness.

Tillydrone sky December 1 — Tillydrone. Image: Karolina Tycia Krzyzanowska.

Sandie Allan Ardersier sky — Ardersier. Image: Sandie Allan.

Tree in front of blue and green sky — Image: Roseanne Mckail.

Northern lights Inverness — Inverness. Image: Nic Vaughan.

Kennethmont sky — Kennethmont. Image: Nicole Grant.

Pink and green sky near Keith — Near Keith. Image: Ann-Marie Longmore.

Sky above Reiss Beach in Wick — Reiss Beach, Wick. Image: Amy Hanrahan.

Northern lights on Dec 1 in Cullen — Cullen. Image: Ali Muir.

Green sky above Culloden Battlefield — Culloden Battlefield. Image: Linsey Macrae.

Blue sheds in Cullen with green sky in background — Cullen. Image: Debby Thorne.

Northern lights at Dunnottar Castle — Dunnottar Castle. Image: Michael Diamond.

Northern lights at Pitmedden — Pitmedden. Image: Linda Smart Jones.

Northern lights at Nairn — Nairn. Image: Tasha Ainslie.

Northern lights in Inverness — Inverness. Image: Gail Campbell.

Northern lights in Crovie — Crovie. Image: Lisa Wyness.

Northern lights — Image: Katrina McDowell.

Northern lights in Archiestown — Archiestown. Image: Sarah Holmes.

Northern lights at Portgordon — Portgordon. Image: Marina Bruce.

Northern lights at Findhorn — Findhorn. Image: Katie Jane.

Northern lights at Glenelg. — Glenelg. Image: Trish Brewster.

Northern lights at Kingussie — Kingussie. Image: Colin McPherson.

Northern lights at Kennethmont — Kennethmont. Image: Nicole Grant.

Northern lights at Keith — Keith. Image: Danny Morgan.

Northern lights at Golspie — Golspie. Image: Susan Grant.

IN PICTURES: The Northern Lights illuminate the sky as readers reach for their camera

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