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Tonight's aurora verdict — Canberra
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Live Kp index and 24-hour forecast
Current planetary Kp
Loading current Kp index…Next 24 hours (NOAA forecast)
Tonight's cloud cover — Canberra
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Cloud cover forecast unavailable.
Solar wind right now
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Nearest dark-sky viewing spot
Mount Stromlo
25 min west from Canberra
Heritage-listed observatory site — elevated southern horizon over the Brindabella Range.
See all Australian Capital Territory viewing spotsCanberra requires a planetary Kp of about 7 for clear Aurora Australis viewing and Kp 6 for photographable glow on the southern horizon. Mount Stromlo Observatory, the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve and the Brindabella high country between Corin Forest and Mount Franklin combine altitude, dark skies and an unobstructed south-westerly view. The capital region's 2024–2026 solar maximum has delivered Aurora Australis visible from Lake Burley Griffin itself during the May and October 2024 G5 superstorms. Outside those rare events, Kp 5–6 nights typically show camera-only glow from elevated southern lookouts. This page shows tonight's live Kp, the 24-hour outlook and Canberra'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.
Related forecasts & resources
Aurora Canberra — 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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