‘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.
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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.
A spectacular treat. #AuroraAustralis
— Costa Haritos (@CostaHaritos) May 12, 2024
📠Brighton Beach, Victoria. pic.twitter.com/7gyBZ4cHGb
Aurora Australis ✨
— Carmela¨ 🌸 (@revelover_RV) May 11, 2024
ðŸ“Brighton Beach, Melbourne
*no edits pic.twitter.com/je9DH9zpup
brighton beach, melbourne. aurora australis pic.twitter.com/AjzDm7wmSM
— steph (@feelingsivegot) May 11, 2024
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.
Aurora Australis from St Kilda Beach Melbourne #StKildapic.twitter.com/8Xe9ci4y7l
— mlb kiwi 🫵ðŸ–ï¸ðŸ˜›ðŸ¤š (@mlbkiwi) May 11, 2024
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.
Aurora Australis, viewed tonight from Rye, Melbourne! ✨ #aurorapic.twitter.com/tQu19kS5UT
— Avishka Wickramarachchi (@Avishka_W_) May 11, 2024
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.
Aurora Australis - I took this photo just now in my backyard in Eildon in Victoria’s Central Highlands.
— Stel (@StellaMelbs) May 11, 2024
I’ve been waiting all my life for this..â¤ï¸#Aurorapic.twitter.com/9jVKCNHWkT
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.
Large sunspot groups and strong solar flares led to the issuance of SWPC's first G4 Watch since 2005... pic.twitter.com/oi55cTPXhP
— NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center (@NWSSWPC) May 9, 2024
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.
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.
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.
“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.
“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”.
🚨SOLAR STORM INCOMING..G4 MAJOR EVENT IN ROUTE TO EARTH...
— Mike Masco (@MikeMasco) May 10, 2024
The first G4 LEVEL #SolarStorm in 2 decades hits TONIGHT. The eruption of an X-FLARE from the sun has generated a #CME (coronal mass ejection) pointed directly at earth and set to arrive late tonight.
There is some… pic.twitter.com/2KEfnWBTra
“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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Originally published as ‘Waiting all my life’: Aussies stunned by aurora australis
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