aurora australis

noun

aurora aus·​tra·​lis -ȯ-ˈstrā-ləs How to pronounce aurora australis (audio)
-ä-ˈstrā-
: an aurora that occurs in earth's southern hemisphere

called also southern lights

Examples of aurora australis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Southern Hemisphere has its own polar lights known as the southern lights, or aurora australis, which create a dazzling display of their own. Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 15 May 2026 The show wasn't limited to folks in the Northern Hemisphere; down under, skywatchers got a stunning display of aurora australis or southern lights. Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 23 Mar. 2026 Also known as the aurora borealis in the north, (or aurora australis in the Southern Hemisphere) these night sky events get their start on the sun’s surface after coronal mass ejections (CMEs) spew ionized clouds of high energy particles towards Earth. Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 12 Nov. 2025 This also occurs in the Southern Hemisphere, where it is known as the aurora australis, or southern lights. Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for aurora australis

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, literally, southern dawn

First Known Use

circa 1734, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of aurora australis was circa 1734

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Cite this Entry

“Aurora australis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aurora%20australis. Accessed 29 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

aurora australis

noun
aurora aus·​tra·​lis -ȯ-ˈstrā-ləs How to pronounce aurora australis (audio)
-ä-ˈstrā-
: a display of light that is the same as the aurora borealis but occurs in the southern hemisphere

called also southern lights

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