THE Northern Lights could be visible in Scotland this weekend.

Although the phenomenon will not be as visible as it was earlier this month, the Met Office said “there is a chance” Scots could get a sighting on Saturday and Sunday.

It will be visible only in northern Scotland, with the weather expected to be fairly dry overnight after a spell of rain in parts of the Highlands during the day.

What are the Northern Lights?

The Northern Lights are caused by charged particles from the sun hitting gases in the Earth's atmosphere.

The colours occur due to different gases in the Earth's atmosphere being energised by the charged particles.

Nitrogen and oxygen are the two most common gases in the atmosphere, with nitrogen emitting purple, blue and pink colours and oxygen emitting green.

How to see the Northern Lights in Scotland

Here are some handy tips from the Met Office for seeing the Northern Lights.

You need a clear night with no cloud cover. Find a dark location with no light pollution. Look toward the northern horizon, but be patient as these can appear late into the night or early in the morning