Aurora viewed from Melbourne in 1950s/60s

[Costonlight (Peter A Meyer)]

Hi all,

Some time during the 1950s or early 60s while at High School, I woke one night to find everything bathed in a bright red light. Getting up to investigate, I was amazed to see, to the south and going across the sky east to west, a huge red curtain filling most of the sky. It had all the folds and distinct bottom of a high (100km +) Aurora Australis, and was absolutely spectacular. As I recall, no other colours were involved.

Does anybody else here remember this, and/or know the date of this most magnificent natural event? I saw this from Nunawading in the east of Melbourne. I would love to be able to locate some photographs of this aurora to see it again.

Ironically, I lived in Edmonton, Alberta for 3 years and never saw the Aurora Borealis once!!!

Thanks in advance for any information,

Pete.

[Paul Haese]

Both my mum and Dad often talk about how bright the Aurora were in the '56 to '58 solar maximum. It was the largest for last century and aurora could be seen in metropolitan Adelaide, with colour. Regular kp estimates of 8 and 9. In fact my Mum said she would often see green, red and purple in Aurora from Currency Creek south of Adelaide. Once during the previous century an aurora was seen from the equator. It all depends on how turbulent the solar cycle is. This cycle by comparison has been quite sedate.

[Costonlight (Peter A Meyer)]

Thanks Paul, that narrows it down a bit.

[Tony_ (Tony)]

Hello Peter,

There is a book called "Observations of the Aurora Australis 1955 and 1956" and also " .... 1957 and 1958".
One of the authors and the publisher is an observatory in NZ called Carter Observatory.
I doubt whether they have records that long ago - but you never know what they may know - maybe you could contact them.

Tony.

[starfield7 (Dave)]

This solarmax has been a massive disappointment. Hardly any earth-directed activity.

I wish we could see something like you describe Pete!

Regards
David
@clearskiestv