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Update Wednesday, January 21: Last night, Earth was hit by the strongest solar radiation storm since 2003, lighting up skies across Australia with spectacular Aurora Australis sightings. The dancing lights were most prominently spotted in Tasmania and along the Victorian coast – from Werribee South Beach to Port Phillip and the Mornington Peninsula. The Aurora was also visible at Stanwell Tops and the Blue Mountains in NSW, Aldinga and Sellicks Beaches in South Australia, and even as far inland as Kalgoorlie in Western Australia, among many other locations.
This morning, the Australian Space Weather Forecasting Centre (ASWFC) issued another alert confirming the severe geomagnetic storm is still in progress. According to the alert, the "Aurora may be observed during local nighttime hours in good observing conditions at high latitudes." The best chance to spot the lights is after dark (if skies are clear), around 65 minutes after sunset.
Bright, beautiful and bedazzling, the Aurora Borealis is a big-ticket bucket list item for pretty much everyone on Earth. Only those who have witnessed the Northern Lights with their naked eyes can truly understand its ethereal magic. But you don’t need to fork out on a ticket to Scandinavia to see the dramatic natural light display IRL. Australia has its very own version, called the Aurora Australis or Southern Lights – and this year, we could be in for the brightest display in 20 years. Here’s everything you need to know about seeing the Aurora Australis in Australia.
Will the Aurora Australis be visible tonight?
Australia’s first big Aurora Australis of the season occurred on Sunday, June 1, sparked by a severe geomagnetic storm. To stay updated, you can subscribe to their geomagnetic storm alerts here, track Aurora activity using this real-time map, or join this Facebook group for posts about the most recent sightings around Australia.
What is the Aurora Australis?
The Aurora Australis is a breathtaking natural light display that glows across the southern skies, also referred to as the Southern Hemisphere’s equivalent of the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights). It occurs when charged electrons from the sun collide with gas molecules in the Earth’s atmosphere. These particles are first launched from the sun’s surface, then accelerated again by Earth’s magnetic field, creating glowing waves of colour that ripple through the night sky.
Where to see the Aurora Australis?
Your best bet for witnessing the Southern Lights is to be as far south as possible. Due to having the cleanest air in the world and being closest to the South Pole, Tasmania is the obvious choice. Favourite spots include Goat Bluff, Carlton Beach, Tinderbox, the summit of kunanyi / Mount Wellington, Highland Lakes and Dove Lake at Cradle Mountain.
Chasing the Aurora from the mainland? You can check out our dedicated guides to the best spots in NSW here and Victoria here.
How to see the Aurora Australis?
You’ll want to find a place far away from city lights, preferably regional, so you can see the dancing colours shine brightest in the dark, twinkling skies. For inspiration, you can read our guide to the most incredible stargazing locations across Australia.
What time is the Aurora Australis?
A Southern Lights display generally lasts one to three hours and is typically brightest between 10pm and 2am. The BOM issues Aurora watch notices when an Aurora is likely to be visible – so keep an eye out here if you’re keen to catch a glimpse.
When is the Aurora Australis?
Like its northern sister, it’s hard to predict when the Aurora Australis will show up in town. Sightings are fleeting and faint, but are most common during the cooler months (May to August) and during the spring equinox in September. Throughout this period, solar winds are more likely to interact with the Earth’s magnetic field, creating a bright and beautiful light display.