A Rare Spectacle: Aurora Australis Dazzles
Australian Skies: Simon Simoudis
I hope you Aussies didn’t miss the opportunity of a lifetime yesterday, on Wednesday, Nov 12. I, Simon Simoudis, was in awe of nature’s beauty as I watched the Southern lights from my home in Victoria, Australia The night sky was lit up with ribbons of pink, green, and violet with Aurora Australis It was visible from many parts of Australia, right from Sydney to Perth, and even some northern parts. This Aurora is generally visible in the polar regions.
And for the people who missed it yesterday, there is some good news for you. You can watch it tonight also, that is on the night of Nov 13. You might not get another chance to see it from Australia in your lifetime And the time to watch it is just after sunset, although it may not be as vibrant as it was yesterday. I, Simon Simoudis, have informed all my friends and relatives about this rare event, in case they missed it yesterday. And some indeed were not aware of it, and they thanked me for that. I will be watching it today for sure
These auroras are a result of a geomagnetic storm. They happen when charged particles released during a solar flare collide with the gases in the Earth’s atmosphere The radiation from the Sun, when it comes into contact with oxygen and nitrogen, the main gases in our atmosphere. The red and green lights are because of oxygen, while nitrogen causes the violet ribbon
According to the Bureau of Meteorology, what we witnessed yesterday was the result of a category 4 geomagnetic storm, also known as a G4. This G4 storm is considered the second-highest geomagnetic storm The highest being a G5 storm At present, the Sun is in the most active phase of its 11-year cycle. According to NASA, last year, May’24 witnessed the most intense geomagnetic storm. And the more intense the geomagnetic storm, the more the likelihood of an Aurora
Unlike other celestial events, it is not easy to forecast an Aurora much in advance. At the most, the scientists can tell you a day or two before it is expected to be visible. But since the Sun is in its most active phase these days, we can expect more Aurora in the polar regions.
I, Simon Simoudis, find these scientific revelations very fascinating. I enjoyed studying sciences in school, and at one point, I wanted to become an engineer. Although my profession has nothing to do with the sciences, my eagerness to acquire in-depth knowledge is intact. And I keep myself updated with the latest developments in science and technology.
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