The aurora australis put on a stunning Monday night show across the Geelong region
An awesome aurora was the perfect antidote to a case of Monday-itis, with the night sky above Geelong serving up a surprise weekday wonder.
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A cosmic light show delighted sky-gazers across Geelong and the Surf Coast on Monday night as the aurora australis made another stunning appearance.
The vivid display of reds, pinks and greens was sparked by a solar storm – as energy from the sun met the earth’s magnetic field.
Across the Bellarine Peninsula, Surf Coast and dark-sky locations around Geelong, residents
took in the spectacle with the lights dancing overhead for several hours.
Monday’s display came after the aurora – also known as the southern lights – put on an incredible show in May this year.
In Torquay and Jan Juc, residents who got wind of the phenomenon headed beachwards with the colours clearly visible to the naked eye.
The Addy’s Shaun Viljoen made a quick dash to Jan Juc beach just after 10pm, where he captured the southern lights above the local surf club tower using a five-second exposure.
“I had no idea we were expecting another show after what happened in May, but I saw a few people posting on social media that the lights were back and I grabbed my camera.” he said.
“It was genuinely otherworldly. Just amazing.”
At Dog Rocks near Batesford, local photographer Ketut Suwitra also captured stunning images.
Experts say there is also a chance to capture a glimpse of the lights on Tuesday night, but if you’re heading out, remember you need to be in a dark place with no light pollution and facing the South Pole.
The Bureau of Meteorology’s Australian Space Weather Forecasting Centre website has regular updates on the strength of the aurora.
Originally published as The aurora australis put on a stunning Monday night show across the Geelong region
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