The aurora australis dazzled over parts of Tasmania in the early hours of January 1, during a severe geomagnetic storm, according to the Australian Bureau of MeteorologyPhotographer Ben Swanson captured this timelapse in northern Tasmania. He described the aurora as a “stunning” display that lasted from dusk until dawn with “vibrant colors, beautiful big beams, and shapes reaching high into the sky overhead.”“Nature’s fireworks kicked off the start to the New Year, and what a show it was,” Swanson said. “At times it was so bright I could easily get around on the moonless night without a torch.”In a Facebook post, the Bureau of Meteorology wrote that the light show was the result of a G4 severe geomagnetic storm and was visible across Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, and New South Wales. Credit: Ben Swanson via Storyful