When is the best time to see the Aurora Australis in Australia?

Aurora Australis is most visible from autumn to early spring (March to September), around the equinoxes when geomagnetic activity peaks. The darkest window — astronomical night between moonset/moonrise — gives the clearest view. Tasmania can see displays year-round; the mainland needs Kp 6+ which typically happens a few times per year during the current solar maximum (2024–2026).

What Kp index do I need to see aurora from my state?

Tasmania: Kp 4+ for camera glow, Kp 5+ for visible aurora. Victoria, South Australia and southern Western Australia: Kp 6+ for clear viewing. NSW, ACT and southern Queensland: Kp 7+. Brisbane, Perth and Darwin: Kp 8 or higher (severe storm), which happens roughly once a year.

Can I see the aurora with my naked eye, or only on camera?

Below Kp 5 in southern Australia, aurora usually only shows up on long-exposure photos as a green/red glow on the southern horizon. Above Kp 6 from Tasmania, the eye sees clear colour and movement. Above Kp 7 from Victoria or SA, the human eye picks up curtains and pillars.

How do I photograph the aurora with a phone or DSLR?

Phone: switch to Night mode or Pro mode with ISO 1600–3200, 10–15 second exposure, manual focus to infinity. DSLR/mirrorless: ISO 1600–6400, 8–15 second exposure, widest aperture (f/2.8 or wider), 14–24mm lens, manual focus on a bright star. A tripod is essential. Avoid lights, including phone screens, to preserve night vision.

Where does the Kp index come from?

The planetary K-index (Kp) is a global measurement of geomagnetic activity produced from magnetometer readings at 13 observatories around the world. It is published every 3 hours by the GFZ Potsdam research centre and forecast by NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center. Australia's Bureau of Meteorology Space Weather Services publishes a local K-index for the same scale.

Does the moon affect aurora viewing?

Yes. A full or near-full moon washes out faint aurora. Best viewing is during the new moon or after moonset. Check moon phase and moonrise/moonset for your location before driving to a dark-sky site.

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Aurora Australis — Adelaide

Name: Aurora australis Kp forecast — Adelaide
Creator: NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center

Tonight's Kp index, 24-hour outlook and cloud cover for Adelaide, South Australia

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Tonight's aurora verdict — Adelaide

Current planetary Kp

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Tonight's cloud cover — Adelaide

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Bz: —nT (south good)
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Nearest dark-sky viewing spot

Cape Jervis

1 h 30 min south from Adelaide

Fleurieu Peninsula south-facing point — closest dark-sky aurora spot to Adelaide.

See all South Australia viewing spots

Adelaide sits at 35°S, so Aurora Australis viewing typically requires a planetary Kp of 6 for clearly visible displays and Kp 5 for camera-detectable glow on the southern horizon. The Fleurieu Peninsula — Cape Jervis, Rapid Bay and Deep Creek Conservation Park — provides the city's closest dark-sky south-facing lookouts, all within 90 minutes of the CBD. Kangaroo Island, accessible by ferry from Cape Jervis, offers Bortle 2 night skies and a full southern ocean horizon. The 2024–2026 solar maximum has produced repeated G4–G5 events visible from Adelaide's southern suburbs themselves. This page shows tonight's live Kp, the 24-hour outlook and Adelaide's cloud cover.

Kp index — what it means in Australia

The planetary Kp index runs 0–9. Higher Kp pushes the aurora further from the magnetic pole, making it visible from lower latitudes.

Kp 0–3 — Quiet

No aurora visible from mainland Australia. Possible faint glow at extreme southern Tasmania.

Kp 4 — Unsettled

Camera-only horizon glow possible from southern Tasmania.

Kp 5 (G1) — Minor storm

Visible aurora across Tasmania. Faint glow on horizon from Victoria, South Australia and far-south WA.

Kp 6 (G2) — Moderate storm

Bright aurora overhead in Tasmania. Clearly visible from VIC, SA and southern WA coasts.

Kp 7 (G3) — Strong storm

Vivid colour visible from VIC/SA/WA. Reaches as far north as Sydney and Perth.

Kp 8 (G4) — Severe storm

Aurora visible from NSW, WA and southern QLD. Once-a-year event.

Kp 9 (G5) — Extreme storm

Aurora visible from the entire continent including Brisbane and Darwin. Once-a-decade event.

Aurora Adelaide — Frequently asked questions

Live Kp, OVATION map and storm alerts from the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center. Australian context from the Bureau of Meteorology Space Weather Services. Cloud cover forecast from Open-Meteo.

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Aurora Australis — Adelaide

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Kp index — what it means in Australia

Aurora Adelaide — Frequently asked questions

Critical

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Aurora Australis — Adelaide

Tonight's cloud cover — Adelaide

Solar wind right now

Nearest dark-sky viewing spot

Kp index — what it means in Australia

Aurora Adelaide — Frequently asked questions

Aurora Australis — Adelaide

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Live Kp index and 24-hour forecast

Tonight's cloud cover — Adelaide

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Kp index — what it means in Australia

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Aurora Adelaide — Frequently asked questions

When is the best time to see the Aurora Australis in Australia?

What Kp index do I need to see aurora from my state?

Can I see the aurora with my naked eye, or only on camera?

How do I photograph the aurora with a phone or DSLR?

Where does the Kp index come from?

Does the moon affect aurora viewing?

Aurora Australis — Adelaide

Loading aurora verdict…

Live Kp index and 24-hour forecast

Tonight's cloud cover — Adelaide

Solar wind right now

Nearest dark-sky viewing spot

Kp index — what it means in Australia

Related forecasts & resources

Aurora Adelaide — Frequently asked questions

When is the best time to see the Aurora Australis in Australia?

What Kp index do I need to see aurora from my state?

Can I see the aurora with my naked eye, or only on camera?

How do I photograph the aurora with a phone or DSLR?

Where does the Kp index come from?

Does the moon affect aurora viewing?