The "very rare" Steve phenomenon is similar to the aurora borealis, but has some key differences (Image: Isle Of Skye Distillers)

'Very rare' Steve phenomenon seen in Scotland as Skye distillery shares photos

Staff at the Isle Of Skye Distillers gin and vodka distillery in Portree have shared incredible photographs of the aurora boralis and the "very rare" Steve phenomenon.

by · Daily Record

The "very rare" weather phenomenon known as Steve has been observed on the Isle of Skye.

Steve, which is short for Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancement, is a newly discovered atmospheric optical phenomenon. It appears as a ribbon of light in the sky, and can usually only be seen for a short period before disappearing.

On Monday, the Isle Of Skye Distillers gin and vodka distillery shared a photograph on social media of a bright red Steve. Taking to Facebook, staff also posted a photograph of a green aurora that lit up the night sky.

Captioning the photos, Isle Of Skye Distillers wrote: "An amazing aurora this evening over the distillery. A very rare red STEVE aurora (Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancement.)

Since being posted, the images have received dozens of likes. Fellow Facebook users have also shared the incredible shots.

Speaking to the Daily Record, Isle Of Skye Distillers co-founder Thomas Wilson commented: "The aurora doesn’t come often to Skye, but when it does it’s a rare treat. You sit for ages watching then it bursts to life, amazing to see — the colours were incredible.

The "very rare" Steve phenomenon is similar to the aurora borealis, but has some key differences (Image: Isle Of Skye Distillers)

"We truly do live on the best island in the world."

The Steve phenomenon is similar to the aurora borealis, and can usually only be spotted in the presence of an aurora. However, there are some key differences between the two.

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While the Northern Lights can last for up to an hour or more, a Steve usually disappears after just a few minutes. A Steve also appears in the form of a ribbon, while the aurora borealis takes the shape of an arc or curve.

Isle of Skye Distillers is a gin and vodka distillery and shop situated in Skye's capital town of Portree. More information can be found on its website.

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