southern Australia (especially Tasmania), and.New Zealand (especially the South Island),.The movements are intricate, but the electrons effectively circle around the Earth’s magnetic field lines and meet or land near where those lines become vertical.Īntarctica is by far the best place in the southern hemisphere to see aurorae! Oh, and at night, as well. The magnetic fields in the solar wind and the Earth’s magnetic field accelerate the electrons. This is due to collisions in the upper atmosphere between energetic electrons (and sometimes protons) and atoms and molecules. The aurora australis is brightest in an oval centred on the south magnetic pole, just like its northern sibling. This is due to the fact that areas near the North and South Poles have longer periods of darkness during the winter. When’s the Best Time to See These Auroral Lights?Īlthough auroras and auroral activity can be seen at any time of year, day or night, the best time to see them is during the winter months at night. When electrically charged particles from solar winds enter the Earth’s atmosphere and interact with gases in the atmosphere, these dramatic and colourful lights result. Meanwhile the southern lights are known as aurora australis in the Antarctic Circle. The northern lights are known as aurora borealis in the Arctic Circle. One can find these on most of the planets in the Solar System, as well as some natural satellites, brown dwarfs, and even comets. These occur in bands around both polar regions.
The amount of acceleration imparted to the precipitating particles determines the shape of the aurora. The ionisation and excitation of atmospheric constituents that results produces light of various colours and complexity. Electrons and protons, in particular, precipitate in the upper atmosphere (thermosphere/exosphere). The trajectories of charged particles in the magnetospheric plasma are altered by these disturbances. Auroras are caused by solar wind-induced disturbances in the magnetosphere.
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