'It gave me goosebumps': Aurora Australis delights with a dazzling dance

The Advertiser

6 days ago

As pinks, purples, oranges and greens danced across the skies, Clinton Down said he got goosebumps.
The Aurora Australis was visible from many parts of southern Australia on June 1 with many people rushing outside to photograph the weather event.
"They are one of nature's most spectacular sights," the Bureau of Meteorology said.
Avid photographer Mr Down was keen to capture his first Aurora Australis so he drove south to Gerringong in regional NSW with his eight-year-old daughter.
"The lookout was absolutely packed ... it was gridlocked. There were at least 100 people and camp chairs," he said.
Looking for a quieter and darker spot to capture the weather phenomena, they headed further south to Gerroa, and Mr Down was blown away by what they saw.
"It was just epic. Honestly, it gave me goosebumps seeing it. It was a core memory and I think it'll stick with me for quite a while," he said.
"Absolutely magical skies tonight.
"Aurora Australis in full colour - pinks, purples, and greens dancing across the horizon. Grateful to have witnessed and captured this rare beauty.
"I had my daughter with me and she was absolutely blown away."
Another keen Illawarra photographer, Shannon Lawrence, headed to Jervis Bay to capture the moment on Sunday, June 1.
"A beautiful display from the southern lights from the South Coast NSW this evening Jervis bay area," he said.
The brightest auroras are concentrated in rings, called the auroral ovals, around the north or south poles, the Bureau of Meteorology says.
The auroras in the northern hemisphere are called aurora borealis, or Northern Lights. In the southern hemisphere, they're called the aurora australis - australis comes from the Latin word for southern - or Southern Lights. Ahead of Sunday's Aurora Australis, the BOM said, "A coronal mass ejection from the sun is forecast to impact Earth on Sunday".
"Anticipated geomagnetic activity from this impact is expected to produce aurora on both 1 and 2 June, with the chance of further activity on 3 June.
Mr Down said he looked for the darkest spot possible to be able to capture the aurora colours in all their glory.
"A tripod and long exposure; other than that it was point and hope for the best," he said.
"We tried to find the darkest spot but we were seeing photos from Calderwood, Port Kembla. At its peak, it was visible to the naked eye for about 20 minutes from 8.15pm. For about 20 minutes, it was full-blown."
As pinks, purples, oranges and greens danced across the skies, Clinton Down said he got goosebumps.
The Aurora Australis was visible from many parts of southern Australia on June 1 with many people rushing outside to photograph the weather event.
"They are one of nature's most spectacular sights," the Bureau of Meteorology said.
Avid photographer Mr Down was keen to capture his first Aurora Australis so he drove south to Gerringong in regional NSW with his eight-year-old daughter.
"The lookout was absolutely packed ... it was gridlocked. There were at least 100 people and camp chairs," he said.
Looking for a quieter and darker spot to capture the weather phenomena, they headed further south to Gerroa, and Mr Down was blown away by what they saw.
"It was just epic. Honestly, it gave me goosebumps seeing it. It was a core memory and I think it'll stick with me for quite a while," he said.
"Absolutely magical skies tonight.
"Aurora Australis in full colour - pinks, purples, and greens dancing across the horizon. Grateful to have witnessed and captured this rare beauty.
"I had my daughter with me and she was absolutely blown away."
Another keen Illawarra photographer, Shannon Lawrence, headed to Jervis Bay to capture the moment on Sunday, June 1.
"A beautiful display from the southern lights from the South Coast NSW this evening Jervis bay area," he said.
The brightest auroras are concentrated in rings, called the auroral ovals, around the north or south poles, the Bureau of Meteorology says.
The auroras in the northern hemisphere are called aurora borealis, or Northern Lights. In the southern hemisphere, they're called the aurora australis - australis comes from the Latin word for southern - or Southern Lights. Ahead of Sunday's Aurora Australis, the BOM said, "A coronal mass ejection from the sun is forecast to impact Earth on Sunday".
"Anticipated geomagnetic activity from this impact is expected to produce aurora on both 1 and 2 June, with the chance of further activity on 3 June.
Mr Down said he looked for the darkest spot possible to be able to capture the aurora colours in all their glory.
"A tripod and long exposure; other than that it was point and hope for the best," he said.
"We tried to find the darkest spot but we were seeing photos from Calderwood, Port Kembla. At its peak, it was visible to the naked eye for about 20 minutes from 8.15pm. For about 20 minutes, it was full-blown."
As pinks, purples, oranges and greens danced across the skies, Clinton Down said he got goosebumps.
The Aurora Australis was visible from many parts of southern Australia on June 1 with many people rushing outside to photograph the weather event.
"They are one of nature's most spectacular sights," the Bureau of Meteorology said.
Avid photographer Mr Down was keen to capture his first Aurora Australis so he drove south to Gerringong in regional NSW with his eight-year-old daughter.
"The lookout was absolutely packed ... it was gridlocked. There were at least 100 people and camp chairs," he said.
Looking for a quieter and darker spot to capture the weather phenomena, they headed further south to Gerroa, and Mr Down was blown away by what they saw.
"It was just epic. Honestly, it gave me goosebumps seeing it. It was a core memory and I think it'll stick with me for quite a while," he said.
"Absolutely magical skies tonight.
"Aurora Australis in full colour - pinks, purples, and greens dancing across the horizon. Grateful to have witnessed and captured this rare beauty.
"I had my daughter with me and she was absolutely blown away."
Another keen Illawarra photographer, Shannon Lawrence, headed to Jervis Bay to capture the moment on Sunday, June 1.
"A beautiful display from the southern lights from the South Coast NSW this evening Jervis bay area," he said.
The brightest auroras are concentrated in rings, called the auroral ovals, around the north or south poles, the Bureau of Meteorology says.
The auroras in the northern hemisphere are called aurora borealis, or Northern Lights. In the southern hemisphere, they're called the aurora australis - australis comes from the Latin word for southern - or Southern Lights. Ahead of Sunday's Aurora Australis, the BOM said, "A coronal mass ejection from the sun is forecast to impact Earth on Sunday".
"Anticipated geomagnetic activity from this impact is expected to produce aurora on both 1 and 2 June, with the chance of further activity on 3 June.
Mr Down said he looked for the darkest spot possible to be able to capture the aurora colours in all their glory.
"A tripod and long exposure; other than that it was point and hope for the best," he said.
"We tried to find the darkest spot but we were seeing photos from Calderwood, Port Kembla. At its peak, it was visible to the naked eye for about 20 minutes from 8.15pm. For about 20 minutes, it was full-blown."
As pinks, purples, oranges and greens danced across the skies, Clinton Down said he got goosebumps.
The Aurora Australis was visible from many parts of southern Australia on June 1 with many people rushing outside to photograph the weather event.
"They are one of nature's most spectacular sights," the Bureau of Meteorology said.
Avid photographer Mr Down was keen to capture his first Aurora Australis so he drove south to Gerringong in regional NSW with his eight-year-old daughter.
"The lookout was absolutely packed ... it was gridlocked. There were at least 100 people and camp chairs," he said.
Looking for a quieter and darker spot to capture the weather phenomena, they headed further south to Gerroa, and Mr Down was blown away by what they saw.
"It was just epic. Honestly, it gave me goosebumps seeing it. It was a core memory and I think it'll stick with me for quite a while," he said.
"Absolutely magical skies tonight.
"Aurora Australis in full colour - pinks, purples, and greens dancing across the horizon. Grateful to have witnessed and captured this rare beauty.
"I had my daughter with me and she was absolutely blown away."
Another keen Illawarra photographer, Shannon Lawrence, headed to Jervis Bay to capture the moment on Sunday, June 1.
"A beautiful display from the southern lights from the South Coast NSW this evening Jervis bay area," he said.
The brightest auroras are concentrated in rings, called the auroral ovals, around the north or south poles, the Bureau of Meteorology says.
The auroras in the northern hemisphere are called aurora borealis, or Northern Lights. In the southern hemisphere, they're called the aurora australis - australis comes from the Latin word for southern - or Southern Lights. Ahead of Sunday's Aurora Australis, the BOM said, "A coronal mass ejection from the sun is forecast to impact Earth on Sunday".
"Anticipated geomagnetic activity from this impact is expected to produce aurora on both 1 and 2 June, with the chance of further activity on 3 June.
Mr Down said he looked for the darkest spot possible to be able to capture the aurora colours in all their glory.
"A tripod and long exposure; other than that it was point and hope for the best," he said.
"We tried to find the darkest spot but we were seeing photos from Calderwood, Port Kembla. At its peak, it was visible to the naked eye for about 20 minutes from 8.15pm. For about 20 minutes, it was full-blown."