Peel photographers captured impressive images as the skies lit up with a rare display of the southern lights across the weekend.
Caused by a severe geomagnetic storm, the aurora australis was clearly visible in the sky across many areas in WA’s south on Friday and Saturday nights thanks to clear conditions.
The aurora australis is caused by charged particles from the sun interacting with the Earth’s atmosphere.
Those keen to catch a glimpse flocked to Mandurah, with Coodanup’s foreshore a popular spot for stargazers, hundreds of whom waited by the estuary for a glimpse of the spectacle on Saturday night.
Further south, the Lake Clifton Thrombolites boardwalk and Island Point Reserve in Herron were also popular spots, with people travelling from local areas and afar to the areas which lack light pollution.
Caused by coronal mass ejections — activities on the sun’s surface — the celestial event saw the first geomagnetic storm warning for the southern lights by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Prediction Centre since 2005.
People around the world from cities to remote areas reported colourful skies.
But those who missed out on seeing the display will have to make do with photos, as the Bureau of Meteorology last week advised the severe solar storm — and resulting auroras — would end early on Monday morning.