Aurora Australis (Southern Lights) over Simons Town. Picture: Hassaan Tanvir
During a recent discussion on the "Sonsak Span Amateur Radio Net" the question was asked whether it is possible to see Auroras (Southern Lights) in South Africa. Before one can answer that question we need to look at why and how this "phenomena" occurs in the sky.
An aurora (pl. aurorae or auroras), also commonly known as the northern lights (Aurora Borealis) or southern lights (Aurora Australis), is a natural light display in Earth's sky, predominantly seen in high-latitude regions (around the Arctic and Antarctic). Auroras display dynamic patterns of brilliant lights that appear as curtains, rays, spirals, or dynamic flickers covering the entire sky.
Auroras are the result of disturbances in the Earth's magnetosphere caused by the solar wind. Major disturbances result from enhancements in the speed of the solar wind from coronal holes and coronal mass ejections. These disturbances alter the trajectories of charged particles in the magnetospheric plasma. These particles, mainly electrons and protons, precipitate into the upper atmosphere (thermosphere/exosphere). The resulting ionization and excitation of atmospheric constituents emit light of varying color and complexity. The form of the aurora, occurring within bands around both polar regions, is also dependent on the amount of acceleration imparted to the precipitating particles.
Planets in the Solar System, brown dwarfs, comets, and some natural satellites also host auroras.
If we again look at the question and with the above in mind and the fact that we live in South Africa then it would be correct that Aurora Australis (Southern Lights) is of interest to us. The Aurora Australis or the Southern Lights, has features almost identical to the Aurora Borealis and changes simultaneously with changes in the northern auroral zone. The Aurora Australis is visible from high southern latitudes in Antarctica, the Southern Cone, South Africa, Australasia, the Falkland Islands, and under exceptional circumstances as far north as Uruguay.
We as radio amateurs know about the 11-year sunspot cycle and the effect it has on HF Communications. At the sunspot low small to very few geomagnetic storms occur which makes it rather difficult to work HF to some regions of the world. At the sunspot high large geomagnetic storms are most common during the peak of the 11-year sunspot cycle or during the three years after the peak. The peak of the cycle provides good to great HF communications a few days after a geomagnetic storm had passed, allowing radio amateurs to work the world using a “shoe string” for an antenna.
One of our local radio amateurs in the Southern Cape, Dolf ZS1DRP is an airline pilot flying overseas. He send me the following Aurora Borealis and other space images that he took out of the cockpit of the aircraft. Dolf thank you very much for the images!
Well we still haven't answered the title question fully except that it is possible to see auroras in South Africa.
In May 2024, a G5 solar storm caused a rare and dazzling display of the Southern Lights that was visible from Cape Agulhas to Cape Town and across the Western Cape. The storm was so powerful that it was the most significant geomagnetic storm Earth had experienced in about 20 years.
In the early hours of Friday, May 10, 2024 Cape Agulhas experienced a rare celestial event - The Southern Lights. Click HERE to view images of this incredible event.
On the 11 October 2024 SABC News Reports - Southern Lights | Aurora Australis visible across SA. Watch the video below:
Herewith another view of the Southern Lights in South Africa - Aurora Australis: A Rare Light Show Graces South Africa’s Skies. Click HERE to view images and information.
Amazing images of the Southern Lights as G5 solar storm hits Click HERE to view images.
Herewith a few Aurora Borealis and Aurora Australis images that was observed from the International Space Station (ISS) (Click on images for larger view.)
Recognition:
1. Dolf ZS1DRP
2. Cape Agulhas Guest House
3. SABC News
4. Rhino African Blog
5. Snow Report SA
6. All my fellow radio amateurs that discussed the Northern- and Southern Lights on the "Sonsak Span" Net.
7. Wikipedia
8. Generative AI
9. Hassaan Tanvir
