Fw: Southern Lights

[anonymous]

Ian Barnes-Keoghan recommended that I forward this email to you.
I can add more to it now - the lights actually continued until at least 11.30pm, because I looked out immediately before going to bed.
There was a series of "arcs" above the horizon - not just one - and from below and from within them surged "beams" of white/green light - almost like searchlight-effects. The word "coruscating", which I have never before understood properly, would seem to be the best description of the effects. "Stunning" just doesn't really cut it!

I would appreciate being put on any email listing for warnings that this sort of phenomenon is possibly due.

Cheers
Lynda Manwaring

Tasmania 7116
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----- Original Message ----- 
From: anonymous <anonymous at fakedomain.ips>
To: webclim at fakedomain.ips
Sent: Wednesday, November 10, 2004 11:26 PM
Subject: Southern Lights


Attention: Ian Barnes-Keoghan:


I assume I am correct in saying that the SPECTACULAR light show we watched tonight from our back garden was the Aurora Australis? The lights shimmered across the sky and formed curves on and above the horizon for over an hour from about 9.40pm.
The lights shimmered literally right across the sky, from west to east and back again, forming a series of  arcs after seeming to start from a central point immediately overhead, sending rays out to all parts of the sky.
Because we have no large population centres nearby, the effects were easily visible - glowing silver and green.
My husband has a big camera and has taken some photos tonight on long exposure - I have persuaded him to enter them in the 2005 Photo Competition.

I was very amazed at the sudden drop in temperature at the same time as the Aurora - it went from quite mild to almost frosty within a matter of half an hour.

I can only remember seeing this phenomenon once before, as a child in Sydney - out in the (then thinly populated) south-west suburbs. I do not remember the Aurora as being anything like so spectacular as tonight's effort. With a bit of luck, I may see it again now that we live down here in the 40's!

Lynda Manwaring


Tasmania 7116
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