Earth was treated to a kaleidoscope of colours on Friday, May 10 and Saturday, May 11 as a geomagnetic storm painted the skies.
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In the Southern Hemisphere, we know it as the Aurora Australis: a breathtaking display of vibrant colours that dance across the night sky.
If you were fortunate enough to witness the solar storm — in the Goulburn Valley it was only visible on the Saturday — you were part of a rare event not seen at this intensity in two decades.
With measurements reaching a level G4 storm on Friday, followed by a level G5 on Saturday, even the Bureau of Meteorology’s Space Weather Forecasting Centre issued geomagnetic storm warnings before the Aurora spectacles hit.
When we experience a G4 or G5 geomagnetic storm, it’s like getting a powerful shake from the Sun, reminding us of the incredible forces at play in our solar system.
In simple terms, it’s like a strong magnetic storm that makes Earth’s magnetic fields wobble.
This can lead to more serious disruptions, like widespread power outages, communication blackouts and even damage to satellites.
However, there has been no widespread damage reported, and when it came to the internet it was quite obvious that everything was fine.
How would everyone have been able to post all these incredible images we have been seeing on our socials otherwise?
So, in saying that, let’s celebrate the experience and what everyone managed to capture.
I, too, revelled in the light display, opting for a night chasing the event with my mum around Rushworth and Murchison.
It was like seeing a magical rainbow of vibrant colours taking over our sky, and it was breathtaking in every way.