I have just returned from a nocturnal tour where we
saw the usual Little Penguins, even though it is drawing towards the end
of the penguin breeding season here there are still a few chicks around,
some only three to four weeks old. Also managed to spot one Barn Owl
perched on a large sugar gum with a Boobook calling not far away.
I saw Peter Waanders comments on the Southern
lights so I thought I would pass on my observations that I sent out
originally on Sunday morning.
Sent: Sunday, November 25, 2001 11:18 AM
Subject: Aurora Australis
Hi Everybody
Last night was a night to remember.
Rhys and Jenny and I saw the best Aurora we have
ever seen in our lives. The intensity varied over more than an hour from
10-30 onwards. At times there was an extremely pink
glow in the sky extending horizontally over about 90 degrees and extending a
long way up into the sky. The clouds low in the South were backlit as if by the
first light of dawn and there were rays of light extending high into the sky.
The rays of light and the pink glow were changing intensity and position as
one watched a wonderful display.
There has been I gather a good deal of Aurora
activity in the last few weeks due to some very intense solar
flares.
If anybody can get away from bright lights on a
clear night and look towards the South in Southern parts of the continent
it is worth having a look to see if the light show is on. The moon is waxing at
the moment so every night that progresses it will become harder to see any
Aurora for the next few days.
Cheers
Ken
Experience Kangaroo Island at night Alkirna
Nocturnal Tours PO Box 1, American River, SA
5221 phone/fax 61 8 8553 7262 E-mail: website: www.alkirna.com.au
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