Spectacular aurora australis lights up sky across Tasmania on first night of Summer

Tasmanians were treated to a spectacular display of the Aurora Australis last night, marking the arrival of the 2023-24 summer season.

The natural light show, often referred to as the Southern Lights, was visible right across the state from around 10pm on Friday and into the early hours of Saturday morning.

Social media lit up with excitement as people shared photos of the ‘mesmerising night sky’, with both enthusiasts and amateur photographers capturing the vibrant green and pink hues.

The Southern Lights are the result of solar winds interacting with Earth’s magnetic field and atmosphere, creating vibrant colours that illuminate the night sky.

Primrose Sands resident Jim Kerrie described it as a “brilliant naked eye showing” which couldn’t be done justice by a camera.