Aurora Australis Explanation

Aurora Australis

Have you ever witnessed nature's light show dancing across the night sky? This colourful display is referred to, and known as ”The Southern Lights”. What causes this spectacular illumination, Aurora Australis?

An Aurora Australis is often referred to as the Southern Lights. It starts at the sun. The sun is always active and has a constant flow of ions from it. The sun has a solarflare which means the sun has a little or big explosion. When the sun has a solarflare it ejects a cloud of electrons, ions and atoms towards earth.

When the cloud of electrons, ions atoms are ejected towards Earth, Earth's magnetic field directs the ions to the North and South poles. Earth’s magnetic field acts like an invisible shield. Particles from the solar flare follow the shape of the magnetic field.

The ions accelerate as they move towards the North and South pole. When they collide with other particles, they release energy in the form of light.

Aurorae also happen in the Northern hemisphere as well as the Southern hemisphere. The Northern Aurora is called Aurora Borealis. The Southern Aurora is called Aurora Australis, the more energy in the solar flare the brighter the Aurora is.