The Bureau of Meterology predicts that solar activity this week could result in stunning auroral displays visible in some Australian night skies on Thursday, Friday or Saturday nights. Aurora are produced when charged particles launched from the Sun interact with the Earth’s magnetic field and slam into the Earth's atmosphere at the edge of space, and result in spectacular displays of light in the night sky.
Available to comment:
Michael Brown, Associate Professor, Monash School of Physics and Astronomy
Contact details: +61 420 989 973 or michael.brown@monash.edu
- Observational astronomy including the evolution of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) and the growth of galaxies over cosmic time
- Measurements of galaxy growth over cosmic time
- How galaxies populate dark matter halos
The following can be attributed to Associate Professor Brown:
“The Sun has been particularly active this week and could lead to excellent auroral displays on Thursday, Friday or Saturday nights. Exactly when the best aurora will be visible is unclear, as aurora can be fickle and fleeting. But there are aurora spotting social media accounts that can help tell you what’s visible from your part of Australia at any given hour.
If aurora are visible, the best views are from dark sites away from city and town lights with clear views of the southern horizon. Aurora are easy to photograph with your mobile phone, which can bring out colours and details that may not be readily apparent to the unaided eye.”
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