Finding the Elusive Aurora Australis (“Southern Lights”)

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Here in New England and across the upper reaches of North America, folks talk of seeing the Aurora Borealis or “Northern Lights”. This incredible light show is a result of electrically charged particles from the sun colliding with gases in Earth’s upper atmosphere.

Photo © Te Aara

It’s truly a stroke of luck and good timing if you happen to be fortunate enough to witness the Aurora: a mix of right place, right time, and right weather. After living in New England for over ten years, I’ve still yet to see it.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Northern Lights have a lesser-known and lesser-talked about sister down at the South Pole – Aurora Australis or “Southern Lights”. That’s because it’s difficult to witness this equally stunning and beautiful display of light outside of Antarctica and points far south within the Southern Hemisphere. And even then, typically only during the six months between March and September on the clearest, coldest nights.

Anthony Powell (a.k.a. YouTube’s “Antzarctica”) captured the Aurora Australis on the short film below over a ten minute period, near Antarctica’s McMurdo Station and Scott Base.

Reason #4,534 why Antarctica tops my RTW to-do list.

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