Aurora Australis May Light Up Southern Skies on Friday
The vibrant aurora australis could be visible from southern parts of Australia on Friday night after a recent coronal mass ejection (CME) from the sun. Such events occur when solar material and magnetic fields burst from the sun’s surface and travel toward Earth.
When a CME reaches our planet, it can trigger a geomagnetic storm that occasionally produces colorful auroras in the night skies near the poles of both hemispheres. These displays often appear as vivid green, purple, or red streaks shimmering above the horizon.
Recent Solar Activity
Two coronal mass ejections were observed from the sun on November 5. This activity led the Bureau of Meteorology’s Space Weather Service to issue an aurora watch the following day.
“A coronal mass ejection is expected to impact the Earth within the next 48 hours, possibly resulting in significant geomagnetic activity and visible auroras during local nighttime hours.”
Weather conditions such as cloud cover and moonlight may influence visibility, so stargazers are advised to find dark, open areas for the best viewing chance.
Understanding the Phenomenon
Coronal mass ejections are vast expulsions of plasma and magnetic energy from the sun’s corona. When they collide with Earth’s magnetosphere, the interaction excites atmospheric particles, producing the luminous glow known as the aurora.
Author’s summary: Skywatchers in southern Australia may glimpse a celestial spectacle this Friday as solar activity sparks potential aurora displays, depending on weather and light conditions.