Hartz Aurora
The Aurora Australis from the summit of Hartz Mountain near the southern tip of Tasmania. I had been attempting to view the aurora with limited success for over a year back in 2016. My main goal was to capture the spectacle from the summit of a dramatic SW Peak. Eventually a moderately strong aurora was predicted in combination with clear weather and no moon. We decided to go for it. After a few hours drive from Hobart we arrived at the trailhead right on sunset. Climbing through the evening we arrived on the summit at 8pm where we made camp on the rocky crags. Unfortunately the weather had other plans and by 9pm light rain and mist engulfed the peak. Resigned there would be no aurora viewing, we set about cooking dinner. While we were eating the clouds gradually lifted revealing bright stars and a faint green glow on the horizon. We quickly scrambled back to the summit and there it was. Stretching above the smaller conical peak of Mt Snowy, the Aurora Australis. I stayed up till 3am watching and photographing the scene as the aurora ebbed and flowed through the night. This is when it was at its strongest; about midnight.
The Aurora Australis from the summit of Hartz Mountain near the southern tip of Tasmania. I had been attempting to view the aurora with limited success for over a year back in 2016. My main goal was to capture the spectacle from the summit of a dramatic SW Peak. Eventually a moderately strong aurora was predicted in combination with clear weather and no moon. We decided to go for it. After a few hours drive from Hobart we arrived at the trailhead right on sunset. Climbing through the evening we arrived on the summit at 8pm where we made camp on the rocky crags. Unfortunately the weather had other plans and by 9pm light rain and mist engulfed the peak. Resigned there would be no aurora viewing, we set about cooking dinner. While we were eating the clouds gradually lifted revealing bright stars and a faint green glow on the horizon. We quickly scrambled back to the summit and there it was. Stretching above the smaller conical peak of Mt Snowy, the Aurora Australis. I stayed up till 3am watching and photographing the scene as the aurora ebbed and flowed through the night. This is when it was at its strongest; about midnight.
The Aurora Australis from the summit of Hartz Mountain near the southern tip of Tasmania. I had been attempting to view the aurora with limited success for over a year back in 2016. My main goal was to capture the spectacle from the summit of a dramatic SW Peak. Eventually a moderately strong aurora was predicted in combination with clear weather and no moon. We decided to go for it. After a few hours drive from Hobart we arrived at the trailhead right on sunset. Climbing through the evening we arrived on the summit at 8pm where we made camp on the rocky crags. Unfortunately the weather had other plans and by 9pm light rain and mist engulfed the peak. Resigned there would be no aurora viewing, we set about cooking dinner. While we were eating the clouds gradually lifted revealing bright stars and a faint green glow on the horizon. We quickly scrambled back to the summit and there it was. Stretching above the smaller conical peak of Mt Snowy, the Aurora Australis. I stayed up till 3am watching and photographing the scene as the aurora ebbed and flowed through the night. This is when it was at its strongest; about midnight.