aurora australis

American  

[aw-strey-lis] / ɔˈstreɪ lɪs /

noun

Meteorology.

1. the aurora of the Southern Hemisphere.

---

aurora australis British  

/ ɒˈstreɪlɪs /

noun

1. Also called: southern lights.  (sometimes capital) the aurora seen around the South Pole

---

Usage

What does aurora australis mean? The aurora australis is the shimmering display of lights that sometimes appears in Earth’s Southern Hemisphere.The phenomenon is also called the southern lights. An aurora is a natural light display in the sky that is caused by particles from the sun interacting with Earth’s magnetic field. The word australis is Latin for austral, which simply means “southern.” The aurora australis appears in many colors ranging from green and pink to red, yellow, and blue.Auroras are not exclusive to Earth and occur on every planet in our solar system except Mercury. And the aurora australis is not the only aurora on Earth. The more commonly known aurora in the Northern Hemisphere is called aurora borealis or the northern lights (the word borealis is Latin for boreal, which simply means “northern”). Both the northern and southern versions can be called aurora polaris because they occur around Earth’s poles, but this term is not commonly used.The aurora australis dazzles the many people who travel to see the natural light show, which is considered one of Earth’s most magical phenomena.

Etymology

Origin of aurora australis

1735–45; < New Latin: southern aurora; austral ¹

Example Sentences

These eruptions can cause geomagnetic storms on Earth, which are what create displays of aurora borealis or the Northern Lights, as well as aurora australis in the Southern Hemisphere.

From BBC

When winds were bearable, we sought bliss, sat, admired the aurora australis as an escape from our blackest abyss.

From Scientific American

No matter how many times you see them, the northern lights, or aurora borealis—and their Southern Hemisphere equivalent, the aurora australis—are an ethereal, breathtaking sight.

From National Geographic

In the southern hemisphere, aurora australis, or the southern lights, are typically visible from Antarctica, Australia and south of Argentina.

From New York Times

Many nights, the dog teams set up a wolf pack howl, sending their lonesome cries up toward an aurora australis that was bright enough to cast shadows on the endless field of ice.

From Literature