Aurora Australis Expected on Friday Night
The vibrant aurora australis could be visible from southern parts of Australia on Friday night after a recent coronal mass ejection from the sun.
Coronal mass ejections, or CMEs, are bursts of solar plasma and magnetic fields. When these ejections reach Earth, they can trigger geomagnetic storms that at times create mesmerizing auroral displays near the poles of both hemispheres.
“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.”
According to the Bureau of Meteorology’s Space Weather Service, two CMEs were observed on November 5, leading to an official aurora watch issued on November 6. If weather conditions allow and cloud cover remains low, skywatchers in southern regions may witness the colorful natural spectacle late Friday night.
About Auroral Displays
These displays appear as shifting curtains or bands of glowing color in the night sky, created when high-energy particles from the sun interact with Earth’s magnetic field and atmosphere.
Author’s summary: Skywatchers across southern Australia may be treated to a colorful aurora this Friday night, provided cloud and moonlight conditions cooperate.