Charged particles from the Sun hitting the upper atmosphere

Which part of New Zealand is good for southern lights?

The far south, like Stewart Island

What happened in May 2024?

A strong geomagnetic storm brought auroras far from the poles

Aurora Australis Quiz: Southern Lights Over Tasmania and Ice

This aurora australis quiz looks south on a dark, clear night. Play 10 interactive questions on what causes the southern lights, solar wind particles striking oxygen and nitrogen, green and red glows, the auroral oval, good viewing from Tasmania, southern New Zealand and Antarctica, James Cook's 1773 sighting, the strong storms of 2024 and long Antarctic winter nights.

Start Aurora Australis Quiz

🎯 Daily Trivia Challenge • 🧠 10 Questions • ⏱️ 150 Seconds

Question 1 / 10 Time: 150s

Name
What is the aurora australis also called?
Cause
What causes auroras?
Green
Which gas produces the common green glow?
Blue
Which gas adds blue and purple tones?
Oval
Where do auroras usually form?
Tasmania
Which Australian island is a top viewing spot?
NZ
Which part of New Zealand is good for southern lights?
Cook
Which explorer recorded the southern lights in 1773?
2024
What happened in May 2024?
Winter
Why is Antarctica's winter great for auroras?

Explanations: answer key for all 10 questions

Q1: What is the aurora australis also called?
Answer: The southern lights
It is the southern twin.
Q2: What causes auroras?
Answer: Charged particles from the Sun hitting the upper atmosphere
Earth's magnetic field guides them.
Q3: Which gas produces the common green glow?
Answer: Oxygen
It glows at certain heights.
Q4: Which gas adds blue and purple tones?
Answer: Nitrogen
Lower edges can look pink.
Q5: Where do auroras usually form?
Answer: In ovals around the magnetic poles
Storms push them toward the equator.
Q6: Which Australian island is a top viewing spot?
Answer: Tasmania
Its south faces open sea.
Q7: Which part of New Zealand is good for southern lights?
Answer: The far south, like Stewart Island
Dark skies help.
Q8: Which explorer recorded the southern lights in 1773?
Answer: James Cook
He sailed far south.
Q9: What happened in May 2024?
Answer: A strong geomagnetic storm brought auroras far from the poles
Many people saw them for the first time.
Q10: Why is Antarctica's winter great for auroras?
Answer: Months of darkness
Researchers see displays often.

The Southern Lights

The aurora australis, or southern lights, is the southern twin of the northern lights. Charged particles from the Sun, carried by the solar wind, are guided by Earth's magnetic field toward the poles, where they strike the upper atmosphere and make it glow in ovals around the magnetic poles.

Oxygen produces the common green glow and, higher up, deep red, while nitrogen adds blue and purple tones and pinkish lower edges. Good viewing spots include Tasmania, the far south of New Zealand such as Stewart Island, southern Australia and Antarctica, where months of winter darkness give researchers frequent displays.

Explorer James Cook recorded the southern lights during his voyage far south in 1773. In May 2024 a strong geomagnetic storm pushed auroras far from the poles, and many people in Australia and New Zealand saw them for the first time, often more vividly in phone photos.

What This Quiz Teaches

Sky fans will enjoy these questions.

What causes auroras
Which colors appear
Where to see them
Who recorded them
What happened in 2024

Did You Know?

Cameras capture more color than eyes.
Space weather forecasts predict displays.
The Kp index measures geomagnetic activity.
Auroras are visible from the space station.
Displays can last minutes or hours.