Aurora Australis Set to Dazzle Australian Skies Tonight
If you missed last night’s breathtaking display, don’t worry—there’s a very high chance the aurora australis, also known as the southern lights, will be visible again tonight across parts of southern Australia. Wednesday night saw the sky painted in vivid hues of purple, blue, and green, creating a spectacle that was captured by lucky skywatchers from New South Wales to Western Australia. According to the Bureau of Meteorology, the best viewing will be in mid to southern regions, especially under dark, clear skies away from city lights.
The aurora australis occurs when energetic particles from the Sun, known as coronal mass ejections, collide with Earth’s magnetic field. These particles excite gases like oxygen and nitrogen in our atmosphere, causing them to emit the rippling curtains of colored light that we see. The recent surge in aurora activity has been caused by a “cannibal” solar storm, where one coronal mass ejection caught up with another, combining their energy before reaching Earth. This event created a severe G4 geomagnetic storm, which is just one level below the most extreme category, G5. Such storms not only produce spectacular auroras but can also affect satellites, radio communications, and even power grids.
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For those hoping to witness tonight’s show, timing is key. The aurora may appear soon after sunset, and the further south you are, the better your chances. However, the strength of the solar storm means it could also be visible in areas further north than usual, with past events reaching as far as central Queensland. Photos from last night show that even suburbs near Perth and Sydney were treated to flashes of green, red, blue, and purple lighting up the night sky.
Capturing the aurora on camera is possible even with a modern phone, though stability is essential. Using a tripod or resting your camera on a steady surface will help, and adjusting settings like shutter speed and ISO can bring out the faint colors. With the ongoing geomagnetic storm, the nights of November 12 and 13 are expected to offer the most vivid displays in years, making this a rare opportunity for skywatchers and photographers alike.
So, if you find yourself under a clear, dark sky tonight, look south and keep your camera ready. Nature’s cosmic light show is unfolding, and for those who catch it, the aurora australis promises a mesmerizing spectacle you won’t soon forget.
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