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‘Waiting all my life’: Aussies stunned by aurora australis

Australians have shared their images of the stunning aurora australis after the night skies were lit up in a breathtaking spectacle.

Emily Macdonald and Zoe Smith
2 min read
May 13, 2024 - 7:32AM
News Corp Australia Network
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Australians have taken to social media to share their images of the dazzling aurora australis after the night skies were lit up in a phenomenon that hasn’t been seen here in decades.

Across the country, the breathtaking spectacle turned the sky dramatic hues of pink, green and blue in what is known as the southern lights.

The display was visibile across the weekend, with the ideal viewing time between 10pm and 2am, and experts say it could return again later this year.

On Saturday, excited star gazers across Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania were stunned to see the light display, which is the southern hemisphere equivalent of the famed northern lights.

One dazzled Victorian woman took to X to post a staggering image she snapped from her backyard in Eildon, saying: “I’ve been waiting all my life for this.”

Those in NSW missed out on the display due to cloud and rain.

Toby Royce, who witnessed the aurora australis from the Brighton beach boxes on Saturday night said it was a very rare sight that showed how beautiful the natural world is.

“It was one of the most beautiful natural phenomena” he said

“It was great to see so many people out enjoying it together, there were so many families walking along the beach trying to catch a glimpse of the lights”

“It was a great atmosphere to be part of.

“It’s something that’s hard to believe is real unless you see it for yourself”

“It could be a once in a lifetime experience and opportunity to catch a glimpse from home in Melbourne”

It came after a monster sunspot cluster 16 times the size of Earth spewed solar eruptions in our direction in the biggest geomagnetic storm in almost two decades.

The US based National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Prediction Centre issued a global G4 Geometric Storm Watch for the first time since 2005.

“This is an unusual and potentially historic event,” Clinton Wallace, Director, NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Centre said.

The aurora australis over South Australia. Picture: Imrana Ghufran
The aurora australis over South Australia. Picture: Imrana Ghufran

In issuing a severe warning, the centre explained the magnitude of current conditions.

“Several strong flares have been observed over the past few days and were associated with a large and magnetically complex sunspot cluster which is 16 times the diameter of Earth,” the agency said.

While a solar storm does have the potential to cause damage to power and radio networks, there is no danger to humans.

Shutterbugs and stargazers across Australia were treated to a spectacular celestial display as the aurora australis, or Southern Lights, made a rare appearance in South Australia. Here is the Coodlie Park Eco Retreat at the Eyre Peninsula. Picture: Krystina Rose
Shutterbugs and stargazers across Australia were treated to a spectacular celestial display as the aurora australis, or Southern Lights, made a rare appearance in South Australia. Here is the Coodlie Park Eco Retreat at the Eyre Peninsula. Picture: Krystina Rose

While the southern lights could theoretically be viewed any time after dark until sunrise, the best chance of seeing them is between 10pm and 2am each evening.

Shutterbugs and stargazers across Australia were treated to a spectacular celestial display last night and early this morning, as the aurora australis, or Southern Lights, made a rare appearance in South Australia’s Kangaroo Island. Picture: Linda N Irwin-Oak
Shutterbugs and stargazers across Australia were treated to a spectacular celestial display last night and early this morning, as the aurora australis, or Southern Lights, made a rare appearance in South Australia’s Kangaroo Island. Picture: Linda N Irwin-Oak

The Australian Space Weather Forecasting Centre did not expect this event to cause any disruption to the power network.

However, it is anticipating an impact on high frequency radio users.

The aurora australis, or Southern Lights, made a rare appearance in South Australia’s Coodlie Park Eco Retreat at the Eyre Peninsula. Picture: Krystina Rose
The aurora australis, or Southern Lights, made a rare appearance in South Australia’s Coodlie Park Eco Retreat at the Eyre Peninsula. Picture: Krystina Rose

“Communication conditions are expected to be fair to poor over May due to expected geomagnetic activity. Frequent short-wave fade-outs are expected,” the centre confirmed.

When a G5 level solar storm struck on Halloween in 2003, Sweden experienced blackouts and power transformers were damaged in South Africa.

The SWPC has been closely monitoring solar activity all week.

Aurora australis is usually only viewable in Tasmania. Photo courtesy of Peter Sayers
Aurora australis is usually only viewable in Tasmania. Photo courtesy of Peter Sayers

“At least five earth directed coronal mass ejections (eruptions of solar material) were observed,” the centre said.

The centre went on to explain CMEs are “explosions of plasma and magnetic fields from the sun’s corona”.

“Geomagnetic storms can impact infrastructure in near-Earth orbit and on Earth’s surface, potentially disrupting communications, the electric power grid, navigation, radio and satellite operations,” a statement from the centre read.

“SWPC has notified the operators of these systems so they can take protective action. “Geomagnetic storms can also trigger spectacular displays of aurora on Earth.”

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Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/national/southern-lights-how-to-see-the-aurora-australis-during-the-solar-storm/news-story/2a1a7b52288b30d4c2c2d69f8fdcf318