ISS Timelapse - Chasing the Aurora. Footage from AstronautiCAST
Viewers hoping to see a "super massive" aurora light up New Zealand's skies last night may have been left disappointed as an expert has warned it might not arrive until this morning.
Aurora expert and photographer Paul Le Comte said the aurora would likely be at full strength during daylighthours, reducing visibility to those interested in capturing a glimpse of the natural phenomenon.
New data suggests the aurora is 12 hours behind schedule and may not arrive until 6am, Le Comte said on Twitter.
Repeat, tonight's #Aurora is now a good 12hrs late. There's a STRONG possibility it might not arrive till 6am+
For tonight's #Aurora Australis NZ remember, it's all about location, location, location. This is why our Aurora aren't like Scandinavia pic.twitter.com/s7dVa5RBEm
The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (Niwa) said the "super massive" aurora was expected to pass over the country overnight and this morning.
An aurora happens when charged particles from the sun interact with atoms in the upper atmosphere.