Star-gazers in the South Island were treated to a spectacular showing of a purple-green Aurora australis last night.
Kiwis from across the lower South Island sent photos to 1News, showing the sight in all its glory.
One such viewer shared a photo from Lake Ellesmere in Canterbury.
Holly Keeling said she was returning from hunting on Omarama Station when she saw “the most amazing southern lights”.
Keeling said she didn’t initially realise the extent of the aurora.
“I thought, oh, the sky looks funny. But you couldn’t really see the bright colours without the camera, you could just tell that something wasn’t quite normal with the sky.”
When Keeling looked back at a photo she’d taken, she was shocked
“I took a photo and I was like OMG, it was amazing,” she said.
“It’s definitely one of the best ones I’ve seen since living here.”
Another person who sent photos to 1News captured a series, showing how the dynamic lights shifted colour and brightness over time.
Earth Sciences NZ said space weather like this can be predicted based on the Sun’s activity.
Aurorae occur when particles from extreme solar events interact with gases around Earth’s poles.
Typically, the light shows occur in lower polar regions because they’re closer to the magnetic pole.
When the solar event is more extreme, Auroras can be seen higher on the globe.
In January this year, a similarly stunning solar storm prompted incredible sights as high as the lower North Island.
