It took just 19 hours for the giant cloud of charged particles from a massive solar flare - travelling at up to 8 million kmh - to reach the Earth.

And when it hit, it put on a spectacular show - a multi-coloured aurora australis curtain not often visible from this country.

When the particles slammed into the Earth's magnetic field they caused the atmosphere to become charged and glow over the northern and southern poles.

A second, weaker solar flare is expected to cause another aurora, possibly visible tonight. But a clear view south will be needed, and no city light pollution.