Check out this stunning time-lapse video showing the Red Aurora Australis (Southern lights) as seen and photographed by Alex Cherney from the Mornington Peninsula near Melbourne, Australia. In his description posted on Vimeo, Cherney said he had been chasing it for more than two years before finding success two times in one week, on Jan. 16 and 22, 2012. Here he gives a scientific explanation for the spectacular show of colors.
The red color of this aurora is caused by the charged particles from the Sun exciting oxygen atoms high in the Earth’s atmosphere. Hopefully there will be more to come as Sun’s activity increases in 2012-13. ~ Alex Cherney
Cherney used a Dynamic Perception Stage Zero device for his time-lapse motion control. You’ll find more information and many beautiful photos on his excellent blog at terrastro.com.
