Aurora Australis

Have you ever witnessed nature's light show dancing across the night sky?

This colorful display is often referred to and known as ‘The Southern Lights’. What causes this spectacular illumination, Aurora Australis?

Firstly a solar flare from the sun is what triggers an aurora. A solar flare is when two sides of the sun explode and it release ions, atoms and  particles into space. These particles travel through space and hit earth's magnetic field.

Earth’s magnetic field acts as an invisible shield around our planet.  The magnetic field blocks ions, atoms and particles from entering Earth’s atmosphere and guides them towards the North and South Poles.  

As the particles move towards the North or South Pole they accelerate and collide with other particles.  This collision causes the particles to release energy in the form of light.

In the North pole the aurora is known as the Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis. In the South Pole it is known as the Southern Lights or the Aurora Australis.