Dancing lights in the sky:

Exploring the enchanting Aurora Australis

Hey, young adventurers! Have you heard about the amazing show happening up in the sky? It’s not a fireworks display or a superhero battle — it’s something even cooler! Let me tell you all about it. So, picture this: Friday night, May 10, 2024, something incredible started to happen. It all began with a historic solar storm — a big burst of energy from the sun called a coronal mass ejection (CME). This storm, like a giant space dance party, sent charged particles zooming toward Earth. Now, when these charged particles meet Earth’s magnetic field, they create something magical — a geomagnetic storm. And this one was a biggie! It was so big that the South African National Space Agency (Sansa) had to issue not just one, but several warnings — G4 and even a rare G5 warning. These warnings tell us how severe the storm is, with G5 being the most extreme. But what does all this mean for us? Well, besides making our technology go a little wonky, these storms also give us something spectacular to see — the auroras. You might know them as the Northern Lights, but down here in South Africa, we get to see the Southern Lights, also known as Aurora Australis. Reports came flooding in from all over — Gansbaai in the Western Cape, Namibia, and other places too. Imagine looking up at the sky and seeing ribbons of green, pink, and purple dancing above you. It’s like a painting come to life, all thanks to the sun’s energy and the gases in our atmosphere having a cosmic party. Jon Ward, a super smart scientist at Sansa, said this was the biggest geomagnetic storm in a “loooong time”. He told us that while these storms are rare, they can have a big impact on our technology. That’s why Sansa works round the clock to keep an eye on the sky and help us stay safe. Sansa’s Space Weather Centre, which opened back in 2022, is like our very own superhero headquarters. They study space weather and make sure we’re prepared for whatever the sun throws our way. Because in a world where everything’s connected and our gadgets are super important, being aware of space weather is key to keeping things running smoothly. So, my fellow sky gazers, next time you look up and see those magical lights, remember the incredible journey they took to get here—from the sun, through space, and right into our hearts. And let’s give a big shoutout to Sansa for keeping us safe and helping us appreciate the wonders of the universe! Until next time, keep your eyes on the stars and your feet on the ground, because the sky’s the limit.