Perhaps Perth had a touch of the aurora last night.

Actually, solar activity, which causes aurorae, is at a baffling all time low, with an almost unheard of total lack of sunspots at the moment. Boffins are scratching their heads, as this solar minimum is now longer and quieter than any on record, I think. They had been forecasting that the ramp up to the next solar maximum in a few years was going to be an absolute doozy, with fried communications satellites raining down on our heads. Now some are saying that this will in fact be one of the quietest solar maxima since records began, while others are just hugging themselves and rocking back and forth.

Now you've got thoughts of the Sun going out to keep you awake at night. You're welcome.