The lights were promised over the weekend following a coronal mass ejection from the sun but few Australians expected the strength in which they came. Aurora australis was so powerful that sky watchers in the city of Hobart could see the spectacle despite light-pollution in the area.
Aurora australis is caused when charged particles from the sun strike atoms and molecules in Earth’s atmosphere, causing them to light up. The lights are most commonly seen in the northern hemisphere over Iceland.
Tasmanian sky lights up with spectacular aurora - VIDEO
21 December 2015
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The Tasmanian sky came to life on December 20 when "aurora australis"
