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A tree is silhouetted in front of the green Southern Lights.

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"You could say the aurora occurs when the sun gets excited and busts out the party lights."
Aurora Australis over some mountains and the ocean.

  • A clear night — the Bureau of Meteorology has a space weather page providing aurora predictions
  • Set up in a position looking south and away from city lights to avoid light pollution and flare
  • A tripod, camera, and wide-angle lens (ideally f2.8 or faster)

  • Use a remote trigger with mirror lock to reduce camera shake — if you do not have a remote try using a timer on your camera
  • Shoot in raw format for better quality photos
  • Turn your manual focus to infinity — test this on a clear, non-aurora night to avoid disappointment
  • Set your ISO from 1,600 to 3,200 or greater if your camera has the capability
  • Set your exposure from 10 to 30 seconds — longer exposures will start to show stars as trails rather than dots

A lighthouse in front of a night sky and the green lights of an Aurora Australia

"There is little that can compare to nights such as these."

Cradle Mountain in Tasmania is silhouetted by an Aurora Australis.

The Aurora Australis over Bancoora Beach

The lights of Aurora Australis over some water

"The first time I saw it it changed my whole outlook on life,"
she said.

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