What causes the aurora australis (Southern Lights)?

The aurora australis, or Southern Lights, is a natural light display in the Earth’s southern hemisphere, similar to the aurora borealis in the north. It is caused by the interaction between charged particles from the Sun and the Earth’s magnetic field. These particles collide with gases in the Earth’s atmosphere, such as oxygen and nitrogen, and produce colorful light displays. The aurora australis is most visible in regions near the South Pole, including parts of Australia, New Zealand, and Antarctica, and it is typically seen during geomagnetic storms.