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Passengers onboard a charter flight around Antarctica were treated to a "breathtaking" display of the Southern Lights last night, one of the world's most beautiful natural phenomena.
The lights, also known as Aurora Australis, is a spectacular natural light display in the sky – predominantly seen in high-latitude regions – and are the result of disturbances in the magnetosphere caused by solar wind.
Sydney Morning Herald Photographer Nick Moir was on board and described the experience as "amazing".
The first southern lights flight of Chimu adventures chartered Qantas 787-9 probed towards Antarctica on Friday night. (Nick Moir / Sydney Morning Herald )
"I'd never see the Aurora before, at first it was just this little green smudge and then there was a little bit more and then all of a sudden there it was full strength," he said.
"We flew down there for three hours, then spent three hours chasing around these amazing curtains of colour dancing around the sky.
"When we they first came into full view you could hear people gasping and getting really excited.
The Aurora Australis view grew from a dull glow reported on the horizon by the pilots into breathtaking green and red curtains pouring colour from the stars. (Nick Moir / Sydney Morning Herald )
"Once you could see it with your own eyes, that's when people really get their money's worth."
Mr Moir said that colours in the display depend on the strength of the solar wind, and last night's spectacle was actually weaker than normal.
"It depends on the solar wind around the poles and last night it was about a one out of 10," he said.
When strong enough, the lights have even been known to be seen from Sydney. (Nick Moir / Sydney Morning Herald )
"So, you can imagine when it's stronger how much further it can be seen.
"In 2015 you could see it even from Sydney.
"When you fly down there, you literally fly underneath the Aurora. It was very exciting."
The voyage was the first in a series of new expeditions lead by Chimu Adventures and a team of expert astronomers to see the southern lights.
www.9news.com.au
The lights, also known as Aurora Australis, is a spectacular natural light display in the sky – predominantly seen in high-latitude regions – and are the result of disturbances in the magnetosphere caused by solar wind.
Sydney Morning Herald Photographer Nick Moir was on board and described the experience as "amazing".
The first southern lights flight of Chimu adventures chartered Qantas 787-9 probed towards Antarctica on Friday night. (Nick Moir / Sydney Morning Herald )
"I'd never see the Aurora before, at first it was just this little green smudge and then there was a little bit more and then all of a sudden there it was full strength," he said.
"We flew down there for three hours, then spent three hours chasing around these amazing curtains of colour dancing around the sky.
"When we they first came into full view you could hear people gasping and getting really excited.
The Aurora Australis view grew from a dull glow reported on the horizon by the pilots into breathtaking green and red curtains pouring colour from the stars. (Nick Moir / Sydney Morning Herald )
"Once you could see it with your own eyes, that's when people really get their money's worth."
Mr Moir said that colours in the display depend on the strength of the solar wind, and last night's spectacle was actually weaker than normal.
"It depends on the solar wind around the poles and last night it was about a one out of 10," he said.
When strong enough, the lights have even been known to be seen from Sydney. (Nick Moir / Sydney Morning Herald )
"So, you can imagine when it's stronger how much further it can be seen.
"In 2015 you could see it even from Sydney.
"When you fly down there, you literally fly underneath the Aurora. It was very exciting."
The voyage was the first in a series of new expeditions lead by Chimu Adventures and a team of expert astronomers to see the southern lights.
'Amazing curtains of colour dancing around the sky': Southern Lights put on spectacular display for passengers on board charter flight
The Southern Lights – or Aurora Australis – put on a stunning show for 10 lucky passengers onboard a charte...
www.9news.com.au
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