Ian was shocked by this awe-inspiring display of Aurora Australis, captured at a level rarely seen in the Monaro region. Photo: Ian Williams Photography.
Canberra astrophotographer and science teacher Ian Williams had no idea what he was in for when he left the gloom of a cloudy Monday night in the capital to chase clearer skies.
He travelled south to Cooma, hoping for some sharp time-lapse shots of the current Aurora Australis, but what he ended up with was far more impressive.
“I managed to persuade my friend David Marriott that there was a good chance the skies were clear down in Cooma, despite heavy cloud and rain in where we were about 90 km north,” Ian says.
“As we were sitting in David’s trusty Subaru letting our time-lapse of the aurora run, he noticed a huge beam out the window.”
Ian and David quickly got out of the car, and despite the setting moon, they were thrilled to see naked-eye colours and beams ‘exploding’ in the southern sky.
According to data from Ian’s shots, the Aurora began its spectacular show just after 10 pm.
“I have never seen such an explosion of auroral activity like it, despite having been in Tasmania for the huge solar storm in May,” Ian says.
“It’s rare for auroral colours to be seen by the naked eye. Usually, at best, you see a white glow to the south or the movement of the auroral as a dull white, usually in moonless conditions, so this was an especially exciting spectacle.
“We ended up with some absolutely beautiful shots. The trip was well worth it.”
It’s the second auroral event Ian has photographed in the region this month.
Though he doesn’t share specific locations to avoid encouraging crowds, Ian does post alerts on the Facebook group he runs – Aurora Australis Canberra, Snowy Mountains and southern NSW – whenever he thinks auroral activity is likely.
To the aspiring astrophotographer, Ian suggests finding a spot with a good uninterrupted view to the south, preferably in an area unaffected by light pollution, as well as a camera with longer exposures – say 15 seconds – and lenses that collect far more light to “bring out some amazing colours”.
“The Monaro is one of my favourite regions to visit and Cooma is a good place on the mainland to see Aurora irregularly while we are at solar maximum. More events like this are likely when we are in a phase where the sun is very active.
“It means a lot to advocate my passion for an area of Australia I feel is special. Sometimes, it’s tough braving the elements at all hours of the night, but it’s more fun than sitting at home thinking about doing it!”
To view more of Ian’s work, visit Ian Williams Photography.
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