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Aurora Australis expected to light up South Australian skies for one more night

The rare Aurora Australis put on quite a show on Monday night, lighting up SA skies. Find out where to snap a pic tonight.

Why we could see more stunning auroras

The stunning Aurora Australis, or Southern Lights, will light up the state’s skies for one more night.

The Bureau of Meteorology’s Australian Space Weather Forecasting Centre issued an Aurora alert on August 12 and many South Aussies got out and turned their eyes – and cameras – skywards and captured some stunning shots.

A spokesman said the Aurora event was expected to last until Tuesday mid to late morning.

If you’re looking to catch a glimpse of the phenomenon, popular locations readers recommend range from Adelaide Airport, Marino, Campbelltown, Bungama, Mount Barker, Myponga, Kangaroo Island and Port McDonnell.

Remember it’s best to be in a dark area with no light pollution and be facing the South Pole.

Joshua Maddern captured this at Mount Barker on Monday night. Picture: Joshua Maddern
Joshua Maddern captured this at Mount Barker on Monday night. Picture: Joshua Maddern
Pink skies at Campbelltown. Picture: Lachy Riley
Pink skies at Campbelltown. Picture: Lachy Riley

Back on May 12 was the last time the phenomenon appeared in South Australian skies – astonishing stargazers and photographers.

The natural light display is usually only seen in Tasmania but the lights were visible across many Australian cities due to the biggest geomagnetic storm in almost two decades.

On Monday night, it was thought the light show would be seen in Tasmania and southern Victoria but the chances of seeing any lights here in SA were low.

Mother Nature had a surprise though for those lucky enough to be out with their cameras.

The sky at Bungama. Picture: Jeanette Flynn
The sky at Bungama. Picture: Jeanette Flynn
The sky captured near Port McDonnell. Picture: Margaret Clarke
The sky captured near Port McDonnell. Picture: Margaret Clarke
Aurora Australis captured at Port Macdonnell. Picture: Erin Beggs
Aurora Australis captured at Port Macdonnell. Picture: Erin Beggs
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An aurora is a natural light display that glimmers in the sky within the thermosphere – one of Earth’s upper atmosphere layers.

It occurs when trapped solar particles interact with different types of gas molecules, mostly nitrogen and oxygen, then manifest into a unique display of coloured lights.

The rare phenomenon is the southern hemisphere equivalent to the famed northern lights, or Aurora Borealis.

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Original URL: https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/aurora-australis-lights-up-south-australian-skies/news-story/24a76fbec11c3b67f6d3288e7356633d