Tasmanians were treated to a spectacular display of the Aurora Australis that lit up the sky across the state overnight.
The Southern Lights were visible from around 7pm on Sunday until nearly 4am on Monday, putting on a vibrant show of green and pink hues.
Social media platforms lit up with excitement as people shared photos of the ‘early morning surprise’, with enthusiasts and amateur photographers capturing the night sky spectacle.
Gill Dayton in the state’s south was one of those who caught a glimpse of the display.
“Incredible night of colour, beams, positions [and] waves,” she said.
“We are so damn lucky living here in Tas.”
The Aurora Australis is a natural light show caused by the interaction of solar winds with Earth’s magnetic field and atmosphere, creating vibrant colours that illuminate the night sky.
“Auroras can occur at any time of year but are most likely to occur during March and September, which is when the Earth’s magnetic field is best oriented to interact with the solar wind,” the Bureau of Meteorology said.
“To see an aurora, you need a dark night with little cloud cover. Bright auroras usually last for 1–3 hours and the best viewing time is usually between 10pm and 2am.”
The Bureau issues an Aurora Watch notice online when solar wind conditions “look favourable” for auroras.
