'The Whole Sky Is on Fire': Tasmanian Sky Lights Up With Stunning Aurora Australis

An aurora chaser said he was blown away on March 23, when an “absolutely stunning” display of southern lights visible to the naked eye lit up the sky over Franklin, Tasmania.

David Finlay called the spectacle “mind blowing”. He told Storyful that the show was “easily the best and most spectacular display of aurora australis I’ve seen in the 23 years I’ve been chasing them across Australia.”

In the video, red and green light can be seen shimmering over Franklin, while Finlay can be heard saying, “The whole sky is on fire.”

“During the intense part of the storm the colors were easily visible to the naked eye,” he said. “At one point the southern sky looked like it was on fire, with beams and ripples of light, and dramatic rapid pulsing, and waves of aurora light.” Credit: David Finlay via Storyful

Video transcript

- The whole sky is on fire. I've never seen anything like this in my life. That is beautiful. Look at it. Look at that thing. There's a lot of energy there.

My lens isn't wide enough. It's so crazy. It's just blowing my mind. I'm the only person out here. Where is everybody? Where are the crowds? Where are all the people chasing aurorae in Tassie right now? I can't believe I'm the only person out here.

This is amazing. It's getting more intense just while I've been talking. So cool. This is easily the best aurora australis I've ever seen in my life, and I've flown down to Antarctica quite a few times.

And this is just putting on a show. This is nature at its best. Look at this aurora australis from Tasmania. That is beautiful. It's reflecting off the water. Look at that.

So pretty. I just can't get enough of this. It is going to be a long night, and I'm not complaining.