Ski season may be off the minds of us in North America, but down under, it’s in full swing. Earlier this week at Thredbo Resort in Australia, the Aurora Australis was visible from Australia’s highest lifted point.
A photo captured by New South Wales astro photographer Oat Vaiyaboon shows the aurora on full display above the Australian ski resort. See below.
Officials at Thredbo explained that in order to get these unique shots, Vaiyaboon “spent the evening shift” with Thredbo’s grooming team in a snowcat.
Once the cat reached the top of Karels T-bar, at 2085 meters, there was a clear view to the south where the aurora could be seen with the naked eye.
Although the experience must have been magical, it is almost as impressive to see it second-hand, forever documented in these crisp, dazzling photos.
Us North American skiers are possibly aware of Aurora Borealis, or the northern lights, the natural light display we see in the northern hemisphere. In the southern hemisphere, viewers get a glimpse of Aurora Australis, or the southern lights.
Photo: Gavin Guan/Getty Images
Both light displays occur when particles from solar eruptions hit the Earth’s magnetic field and then enter the Earth’s atmosphere at auroral ovals and interact with gases, creating the auroras we see as colorful lights in the night sky.
The Southern Lights can be viewed year-round, but their prime season for viewing is fall and spring. March to September provides the most likely window for spotting this rare, natural display.
If you wants to better their odds, getting as far south as possible and as far away from light pollution as possible will help your case.
Related: Living on the Edge: a Q&A With BCA’s Bruce Edgerly
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