The Northern Lights captured people’s minds on Thursday night, not least those turning to memes to fill a void left by not having seen them.
Across the world, stargazers stared up the green, blue, pink and purple light show, known as aurora borealis, dancing across the sky above them.
It’s rare for this natural phenomenon to be seen so far south. Usually you’d have to go all the way to Iceland, Scandinavia, Canada and Alaska to see it.
But every 11 years, during the solar maximum when sun spots start to burst, you get a chance to see them from your own backyard as far south as Kent.
Still unable to see it from the comfort of their homes, some rolled out the memes.
If you’re ever wondering where to start your journey with memes, The Simpsons is a good place the start.
After 35 years on air, there’s no shortage of scenes packed with punchlines from which to choose.
The Royal National Institute of Blind People did just that to humorously urge people to add alt text to images so people with visual impairments can join the fun.
They weren’t alone in drawing inspiration from this specific scene where Principal Skinner uses the Northern Lights to try lying his way out of trouble.
You’d be forgiven for turning to the one person with their finger on the nation’s pulse – Brenda from Bristol – to lament, ‘not another one’, if you’ve missed the Northern Lights yet again.
Others have another angle on the politics vibe, mocking the way everything seems to be about politics, from hurricanes to beer brands.
The quality varies, but as ever, the memers are letting loose their creative sides.
Whether it’s a scribble on a screen, a more delicate dash of colours, or a quick dose of photoshop, people have their own unique take.
In at least one case, however, it proved so convincing the artist had to say: ‘Cannot believe I have to clarify that this is an edit. Y’all stay safe out there.’
Not everyone was blessed enough to live where they could see the Northern Lights.
Some live too far south, some had their view obstructed by clouds, while others’ skies are too polluted by light to see them even on clear nights.
Fear not, however, as they’re not the only light shows in town.
Perhaps they pale in comparison, even if they are sometimes far too bright, but the fluorescent lights of chain restaurants have proved a suitable alternative.
Whether it’s the purple of Taco Bell, the red sign of Wawa, or the giant Big Mac projected on The Sphere in Las Vegas, there’s no shortage of displays to watch.
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