Ski season may be off the minds of us in North America, but it’s in full swing down under. Earlier this week, the Aurora Australis was visible from Australia’s highest point at Thredbo Resort in Australia.
A photo taken by an astrophotographer from New South Wales Oats Vaiya bean shows the Northern Lights in all their glory above the Australian ski resort. See below.
Officials at Thredbo explained that to capture these unique photographs, Vaiyaboon spent ‘the evening shift’ with the Thredbo snow removal team in a snowcat.
When the cat reached the top of Karel’s T-bar, at 2085 meters, there was a clear view to the south, where the northern lights were visible to the naked eye.
While the experience must have been magical, it’s almost as impressive to see it with your own eyes, captured in these clear, stunning photographs.
We North American skiers may be aware of the Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, the natural light show seen in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, viewers get a glimpse of the Aurora Australis, or Southern Lights.
Photo: Gavin Guan/Getty Images
Both luminous phenomena occur when particles from solar flares strike the Earth’s magnetic field and then enter the Earth’s atmosphere. aurora borealis ovals and interact with gases, creating the aurora borealis we see as colorful lights in the night sky.
The Southern Lights can be viewed all year round, but the best season is autumn and spring. The best time to see this rare natural spectacle is from March to September.
If you want to increase your chances, it’s best to go as far south as possible, and as far away from light pollution as possible.
Related: Living on the Edge: A Q&A with BCA’s Bruce Edgerly
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