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An Auckland couple who travelled south to witness the Southern Lights to no avail, have captured it in their own backyard.
Varsha and Parag Ramesh were enjoying their Saturday morning coffee at a cafe in Mt Eden when they read about a solar storm.
After many attempts to experience the natural wonder in the last year – including a trip to the Mackenzie region last month – Varsha Ramesh’s first thought was the aurora.
An Aurora Australis, also known as the Southern Lights, is caused by magnetically driven explosions on the sun (a solar storm) which shoots material at high speed away from the sun.
It results in an array of colours lighting up the night sky.
None of the ideal locations mentioned in the article were within driving distance, so they settled on Huia point in Waitākere with views towards the south.
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The Aurora Australis seen from Auckland’s Huia Point lookout.
The couple packed a small picnic bag, some blankets, and made their way to the hills.
“On reaching there we were immediately rewarded with a clear sky and an amazing view of the stars and the Milky Way,” she said.
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Aurora Australis captured from Auckland’s Huia Point lookout between 7 and 9.30pm on August 5.
They set up their camera, facing the Manukau Harbour, and waited.
“Not long after, we noticed splashes of pinkish hue strewn across the sky. We could not believe our eyes, considering many before us had tried in vain.
“The periodic waxing and waning of the lights confirmed that what we were looking at was indeed the southern lights.”
She said they enjoyed it for a couple of hours, between 7 and 9.30pm on Saturday night, before reluctantly packing up to head home.
“I guess, you don’t find the aurora! The aurora finds you.”
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The Milky Way captured from Auckland’s Huia Point lookout between 7 and 9.30pm on August 5 by Varsha Ramesh.
August was also big month for the Moon. Not only were there two full moons this month – with the second a blue moon – but both are also supermoons.
A supermoon happens when the Moon’s orbit is closest – or at perigee – to Earth about the time of a full moon.
The actual moment of full moon was at 6.32am on August 2, according to the Royal Astronomical Society of NZ.
The exact moment when the super blue moon is full will be at 1.36pm on August 31.
There won’t be a closer supermoon until November 2025, when the distance will just sneak under 357,000km.
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