STEVE lights up Ardnamurchan

ARDNAMURCHAN stargazer Ellen Kammerath was delighted last Sunday when she witnessed – and photographed – a mysterious aurora.

The remarkable phenomenon has been dubbed STEVE - Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancement - and was seen during displays of the Aurora Borealis overnight.

Scientists are trying to learn more about the rare sight, and NASA is funding a citizen science project, asking stargazers about their sightings of STEVE.

Ellen told The Oban Times: ‘I saw a few rare pics on Facebook and I couldn’t believe my eyes as I saw it last Sunday. The pillar of light stood for more then an hour, straight up with a wee bit of movement and colour changing.

‘The pillar reached very high. I photographed the light show from Loch Shiel pier at Acharacle and was also able to see it at home in Salen as well.

‘We were very lucky that night with a very clear sky meanwhile most of other parts of the UK were covered in clouds.’