Extract from ABC News
Early risers across regional Victoria have been treated to a surprise in the night sky as an Aurora Australis danced across the horizon.
Key points:
- The Aurora Australis, also known as Southern Lights, was seen across Victoria's southern coast
- Auroras occur when solar wind collides with atoms of oxygen and nitrogen from Earth’s atmosphere and the peak times are usually in winter months
- Auroras are more frequent in periods of high solar activity
The lights were visible in some parts of the state as early as 3:30am and growing in vibrancy in a display that, while a known occurrence further south in Tasmania, is something of a rarity in Victoria.
Residents of inland towns Mirboo North in Gippsland, Warrnambool in south-west Victoria, and Napoleons near Ballarat have shared impressive photos of the phenomenon.
In the regional town of Mortlake, three hours west of Melbourne, Duane Hayden spent the early hours hunting for the perfect vantage point.
"I had to keep changing spots due to thick fog," Mr Hayden said.
"All of a sudden, it just went boom ... you could actually see it with the naked eye, which isn't common."
Napoleons resident Shane Laidlaw left home at about 5:00am and saw what looked like red tail lights driving through dull fog.
"The phone photos brought out the colours so much more," he said.
"I woke up my wife and she said it could be an aurora and went back in and woke up my son."
Uncommon in Victoria
The Bureau of Meteorology released an alert yesterday notifying of conditions conducive to visible auroras.
Astronomer and space historian Dave Reneke says auroras are caused by solar flares.
He said this one was particularly strong as colours were not commonly visible from Victoria.
Mr Reneke sayss the sun is entering an 11-year period called solar maximus where activity ramps up following a period of solar minimus.
"What we are seeing is an increased amount of solar flares," he said.
"Every now and then the sun will pump out a huge solar flare, which is a ball of energy that breaks away from the sun and washes over our planet within 12 to 24 hours.
"When it does that, it interacts with our north and south magnetic poles.
"The air fluoresces in different colours; red, blues and greens like a neon tube."
Nullawarre dairy farmer Abby Burleigh said the phenomena took her by surprise.
"I was at the dairy feeding calves. I looked and had to have a double look," she said.
"I thought I was seeing things."
Bom senior meteorologist Dean Narramore said the aurora was visible across Victoria, as far north as Mildura.
"We are expecting these conditions to continue until this evening," he said.
"You may be able to see it from Tasmania and coastal parts of Victoria tonight, but it looks to be weaker."
How do I get 'the shot'?
The BOM monitors sun flares and is able to provide alerts sometimes days in advance for upcoming Auroras.
Securing the "Instagram-worthy" snap of the phenomenon isn't easy, but there are some things you can do to make it easier.
Mr Reneke suggested going to the beach or an elevated area with a clear view of the horizon to catch the next Aurora.
Barb Wallace is the founder of Facebook group Aurora Hunters Victoria and has had an influx of member requests, which also has an alerts page.
The group has more than 31,000 members but Ms Wallace expects that number to grow significantly as Auroras become more frequent in the coming year.
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