Stunning auroras light up skies across world as massive solar geomagnetic storm hits Earth - ABC News

Stunning auroras light up skies across world as massive solar geomagnetic storm hits Earth

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Skies around the world have shone with extraordinary colours overnight due to a rare solar weather event.

The aurora borealis and australis — the northern and southern lights — stunned those who ventured outside to take in the views, and provided amateur photographers with the opportunity to take some truly spectacular pictures.

A geomagnetic storm of a strength not seen for two decades was behind the phenomena.

Here is a selection of some of the most stunning displays.

Aurora australis

An old church at Port Arthur photographed in front of a pink and blue sky
The aurora australis is captured at Port Arthur in south-east Tasmania.(Supplied: Jules Witek Photography)
A lake with a nearby pathway, with the sky lit up with pink and green hues.
Aurora australis as seen in north-west Tasmania in the early hours of the morning.(Facebook: Ryan Shan)
Purple and orange lights in the sky over a beach
Very strong aurora australis displays can produce violet-coloured skies, as seen at Woodbridge.(Supplied: Phillip Hirst)
Pink lights in the sky over a beach
Squeaking Point in Tasmania played host to deep blue and violet skies.(Supplied: Tony Liu)

Photographer Sean O'Riordan, who was visiting Tasmania, said he was lucky enough to photograph the aurora before flying to Brisbane on Saturday.

"I was literally on the beach shooting and I had to wrap up and run back to the camper, pack my bag, change and get to the airport," Mr O'Riordan said.

Green, red and yellow lights in the sky over a bay
Sean O'Riordan just managed to capture this stunning display at Eaglehawk Neck in south-east Tasmania.(Supplied: Seán O Riordan Photography)

He said the colours were visible to the naked eye.

"You could see the pillars and the beams that were rising off it, which was incredible," he said.

"I've never seen anything like it before. There was just a mash of red, green pink."

Purple light in the sky among clouds
The aurora australis at Howden, in southern Tasmania.(Supplied: Ian Stuart)
a scene of a road and grass on two sides with the sky lit up with a wide array of colourful rays.
The aurora australis as seen in Horsham, Victoria.(Facebook: Lynton Brown Landscapes)
A gorgeous red sky over what looks like a mine or rubbish dump.
The sky was lit up red in the early hours of the morning in Bridgetown, WA.(Facebook: Jason Browning)
A brilliant blue and purple sky above a house and car.
Purple and blue skies over Manjimup at 6am on Saturday, May 11, 2024.(Facebook: Susie Wauchope)
A red sky above a silhouetted windmill.
The aurora australis turned the sky red over Walkaway in Western Australia.(Facebook: Katie Ann Thoars)
A sky filled with clouds and vertical purple streaks hovers over a landscape dotted with native trees.
A brilliant skyscape over Narembeen, Western Australia.(Facebook: Jessie Davis)

Aurora borealis

A view of a sky with rainbow and pink light streaks coming down.
The aurora borealis glowed on the horizon at St Mary's Lighthouse in Whitley Bay on the north-east coast of England.(PA/Owen Humphreys via AP)
An empty road way wiht the sky lit up in green late at night
Aurora borealis shines in the night sky over East Brandenburg, Germany on Saturday.(DPA/Patrick Pleul via AP)
Sky at night lit up in pink hues with trees and a road below.
A long exposure photograph with the northern lights glowing in the night sky above the village of Daillens, Switzerland.(Keystone/Laurent Gillieron via AP)
A purple sky filled with vertical streaks over a city.
Aurora borealis appears above Lausanne, Switzerland, as seen from the Tour de Gourze lookout.(Reuters: Denis Balibouse)
A farm land at night with the sky lit hues of green and pink.
Northern lights in the skies over Loire-Atlantique, as seen here in Riaille, France.(Estelle Ruiz/Hans Lucas via AFP)
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