Magic in the sky

To my surprise, images of the Aurora Australis were being posted across the state.

Photographing the Aurora had always been on my bucket list, and seeing images from just a couple of hours south of my own Murchison backyard spurred me into action. I had to see it for myself.

To my amazement, I could see it too. Excitedly, I threw on a long cardigan over my nightgown, slipped into a pair of boots without socks, grabbed the camera and tripod, and dashed again outside.

To the naked eye, witnessing the Aurora required patience as your eyes adjusted in the dark. However, armed with a camera and the knowledge of manual mode and long exposures, it became an exhilarating rush.

With each exposure completed, I eagerly anticipated seeing the picture on the camera screen. Throughout the entire two hours I spent outside capturing the spectacle, the excitement never left.

Hues of pinks, purples and bursts of reds streaked across the sky as if they were dancing beneath the stars.

And even though I was confined to my backyard with only trees and a fence line separating us from our neighbouring property, I hesitated to move, fearful that the spectacle might cease at any moment.

Now, in delving into the technicalities of how the Aurora Australis forms, it’s important to note that while I’m a writer and photographer, I’m not a scientist, but here’s what I’ve learned.

In simple terms, the Aurora Australis, also known as the Southern Lights, is formed when charged particles from the sun, called solar wind, collide with gases in Earth’s atmosphere.

These collisions excite gases, such as oxygen and nitrogen, causing them to emit light.

The different colours of the auroras depend on the type of gas and the altitude at which the collisions occur.

For example, oxygen emits green and red light, while nitrogen emits blue and purple light.

The Earth’s magnetic field then directs these charged particles toward the poles, creating beautiful light displays in the Southern Hemisphere.

If that explanation has left you scratching your head, fear not! I have a go-to Facebook page called Aurora Hunters United.

A gentleman named Dazza Fulton regularly updates and simplifies all this information for us Aurora chasers, keeping us informed and ready for when the magic might happen. It’s worth checking out.

So, get your cardigan or coat ready, grab socks before putting on boots, or alternatively, opt for dressing more appropriately than I did, especially with the cooler months ahead.

Grab your camera, and remember the tripod because that’s a must-have accessory for those long exposure shots. Then, head out for an adventure.

It’s breathtaking, it’s colourful and it’s truly like witnessing magic unfold in the sky.