It may be more common and more visible in parts of Antarctica.
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![Parts of the Aurora Australis were seen over the ACT on Monday night. The image was captured near the Orroral Valley, south of Tharwa. Picture: Ian Williams Parts of the Aurora Australis were seen over the ACT on Monday night. The image was captured near the Orroral Valley, south of Tharwa. Picture: Ian Williams](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/fdcx/doc76jh2uqortegeot4e7p.jpg/r0_361_4279_2767_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
But in the ACT on Monday night, at this time of year, at this time of day, and in this part of the country, parts of Aurora Australis were visible within Canberra skies.
And thanks to one keen stargazer, others who didn't stay up late or found the perfect vantage point were able to see it.
Canberra photographer Ian Williams captured the image of the southern lights in the Orroral Valley on Monday night, just south of Canberra. It lit up the night sky with vivid greens and pinks.
Mr Williams said the display lasted for a couple of hours.
"The shots were taken near the Orroral Valley tracking station," he said.
"You would't be able to see it in the middle of Canberra because it would be affected by light pollution, and you want to get yourself in a position that gives you an unobstructed view of the southern sky."
The weather phenomenon is caused by electrically-charged electrons and protons accelerating down the Earth's magnetic field lines, and colliding with neutral atoms in the atmosphere, 100 kilometres above.
The collision in the atmosphere causes the neutral atoms to produce the stunning colours the southern lights are known for.
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A spokeswoman for Geoscience Australia said there had been an increased geomagnetic disturbance on Monday night between 6pm and 11pm.
"Geomagnetic activity at the Canberra geomagnetic observatory had an activity index of five, this classifies the activity as a minor storm," the spokeswoman said,
"An aurora alert was also issued by the Bureau of Meteorology Space Weather Service on Monday night, and there were a number of aurora sightings from locations further south during the same period."
There were many aurora sightings in many parts of Tasmania and Victoria on Monday, while more spectacular images came from Christchurch in New Zealand.
Those in parts of Tasmania have a 1 or 2 per cent chance of seeing an aurora on a clear night, according to the Australian Antarctic Division.
Mr Williams described himself as an aurora chaser, having seen his first in Tasmania in 1989, being fascinated by them ever since.
"I've always had an interest in astronomy and the night sky," he said.
"I love capturing auroras here in Canberra, they're not as common as Tasmania."