Magical moments of the southern lights
Known as aurora australis, the southern lights are an atmospheric light show usually seen in high latitude areas of the Antarctic Circle. A deeply stunning spectacle (and the Southern Hemisphere's answer to the northern lights), it occurs when gases like oxygen and nitrogen emit light after colliding with charged solar particles in the atmosphere.
Click through for some stellar images and facts about this celestial wonder.
(Pictured) Aurora australis lights up over the Mersey River in Devonport, Australia.