Tasmanians and Victorians are wowed by mesmerising aurora as nature puts on a special light show

Millions of Australians are wowed by mesmerising aurora as nature puts on a special light show

  • BOM stated lucky Victorians and Tasmanians could witness show Thursday night
  • Bureau’s Space Weather Services stated a ‘geomagnetic storm’ was occurring
  • The stunning lights were seen as far north as the Mallee in Victoria and Perth, WA
  • Residents shared images of striking purple and green sky with glistening stars 


Millions of Australians have been fortunate enough to witness a mesmerising aurora after nature put on a unique light show.

The Bureau of Meteorology announced on Thursday just before 7.30pm that Tasmanians and Victorians along the coastline could have a possible chance to see the aurora during the night.

The Bureau’s Space Weather Services issued the Aurora Alert and stated that a ‘geomagnetic storm’ was occurring and the best conditions to observe the natural light show were at ‘high latitudes’.

While patchy clouds arriving from the east proved a challenge for Victorians, residents from the state and across southern Australia raced out their doors to spot the astonishing Aurora Australis that did not disappoint.

The Bureau took to Twitter on Friday to share the visual experience which was captured by sky-gazers ‘as far north as the Mallee in Victoria and Perth in Western Australia’.

Lucky sightseers posted images to social media of the sky entirely lit by striking purple and green colours with glistening stars scattered throughout the stunning mix of colours.

The Bureau of Meteorology announced on Thursday just before 7.30pm that Tasmanians and Victorians along the coastline could have a possible chance to see the aurora

Josh Karpowicz wrote: ‘Thanks #Tasmania for the show tonight, got to see the #auroraaustralis from the lake right outside our airbnb in #Strahan.’

Mr Karpowicz captured an image of the mesmerising light show as the bright colours reflected onto the lake.

A thick green line also appeared from behind the outline of the mountainous tops, and it travelled along the sky view.

While patchy clouds arriving from the east proved a challenge for Victorians, residents from across southern Australia raced out their doors to spot the astonishing Aurora Australis (Pictured: Strahan, Tasmania)

While patchy clouds arriving from the east proved a challenge for Victorians, residents from across southern Australia raced out their doors to spot the astonishing Aurora Australis (Pictured: Strahan, Tasmania) 

Tasmanian resident Anne Hardy was also fortunate enough to watch the display and wrote: ‘Living on the side of a mountain has its advantages on nights like these. It is a five minute drive to the top and…voila! Aurora Australis.’

Her husband Pete’s captured the striking image of the aurora from the high position as lines of dark purple and yellow colours are seen scattered throughout the sky amongst the bright stars.

Tasmanian resident Anne Hardy was also fortunate enough to watch the display of dark purple and yellow colours that lit up the sky amongst glistening stars

Tasmanian resident Anne Hardy was also fortunate enough to watch the display of dark purple and yellow colours that lit up the sky amongst glistening stars

Despite the weather challenges, Victorian Anne Logan-Bell witnessed the light show from Koonya Beach on the Bass Strait coast section of the Mornington Peninsula.

While the skies weren’t as clear as in Tasmania, the image showed a mix of purple colours filling the sky.

The mystifying light show happens when the sun releases a large burst of solar wind and magnetic fields into space.

These solar winds carry particles that connect with the earth’s magnetic field and then collide to create energy releases that form auroras of red, green and purple colours.

Despite the weather challenges, Victorian Anne Logan-Bell witnessed the light show from Koonya Beach on the Bass Strait coast section of the Mornington Peninsula

Despite the weather challenges, Victorian Anne Logan-Bell witnessed the light show from Koonya Beach on the Bass Strait coast section of the Mornington Peninsula

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