PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- The Northern Lights made a rare appearance Tuesday night , stretching far beyond their typical range, with sightings reported from as far south as Alabama and Florida, to parts of the Northeast, including Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Across the tri-state area, residents captured stunning photos of the aurora borealis lighting up the night sky in bright pinks and greens.

The widespread display was triggered by a powerful burst of energy from the sun, known as a coronal mass ejection, which interacted with Earth's magnetic field to produce the vivid colors.

Experts say parks and other dark-sky areas are ideal for viewing the aurora, away from the glare of city lights.

Some viewers may have noticed that the colors didn't appear quite as vibrant to the naked eye.

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