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Tasmania's aurora watchers have been treated to an extraordinary Christmas lightshow, with spectacular photos captured even from Hobart suburbs.

The promise of a strong display of the southern lights, or aurora australis, came over the weekend on the back of a coronal mass ejection from the sun.

But while the stormclouds of Sunday afternoon were good news for firefighters, they threatened to obscure the festive season aurora.

Fortunately, the clouds parted to allow an intense aurora to be enjoyed in all its glory.

The aurora was so strong it appeared vividly in photographs taken in suburban Hobart, where light pollution typically overpowers the polar light.

The powerful display pushed beams of light to extraordinary heights.

Unfortunately, it appears there will be no repeat performance tonight.

The aurora australis rises over cabbage patch on the north-west coast of Tasmania. ( Facebook: Julie Head )

Tall aurora beams stretch high over Carlton, Hobart. ( Facebook: Wayne Painter )

The aurora australis captured at Kingston Beach south of Hobart. ( Facebook: Sophie Fazackerley )

The southern lights seen from the backyard in suburban Hobart. ( Facebook: Carlos Enriquez )

A powerful display of the southern lights captured south of Hobart. ( Facebook: Leena Wisby )

The Aurora australis shines over Hobart. ( Facebook: Matt Holz )