Solar wind buffeting Earth's magnetic field is sparking bright Valentine's auroras around the Arctic Circle. Øystein Lunde Ingvaldsen sends this picture of the sweet lights over Bø in Vesterålen, Norway:

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© Øystein Lunde IngvaldsenImage Taken: Feb. 14, 2011. Location: Bø in Vesterålen, North of Norway
"It was a short but beautiful blast of Northern Lights," says Ingvaldsen. "Perhaps this is a preview of bigger things to come later this week." Indeed, CMEs en route to Earth from exploding sunspot 1158 are expected to arrive on Feb. 15th-17th, sparking brighter lights at even lower latitudes. Sky watchers should be alert for auroras.

More Images:

From Fredrik Broms of Kvaløya, Norway; from Martin McKenna of Glenshane Pass, N. Ireland; from Chad Blakley of Abisko National Park, Sweden; from Conor McDonald of Maghera, Northern Ireland; from B.Art Braafhart of Salla - Sallatunturi, Finnish Lapland