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Tonight's aurora verdict — Launceston
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Live Kp index and 24-hour forecast
Current planetary Kp
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Tonight's cloud cover — Launceston
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Cloud cover forecast unavailable.
Solar wind right now
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Nearest dark-sky viewing spot
Cradle Mountain south lookout
2 h 30 min west from Launceston
World Heritage dark-sky reserve. Best for strong storms when overhead displays light up Dove Lake.
See all Tasmania viewing spotsLaunceston sits at 41°S in Tasmania's north, far enough south that Kp 4 produces a camera-detectable glow and Kp 5 a clearly visible aurora on the southern horizon. The Tamar Valley and the West Tamar lookouts above Bridgenorth give Launcestonians elevated south-facing views without leaving town, while Cradle Mountain's World Heritage dark-sky reserve — 2.5 hours west — delivers Bortle 1–2 skies for stronger storms. North-east Tasmania's Mount William and Bay of Fires region also clear most light pollution within ninety minutes. This page combines tonight's planetary Kp, the 24-hour outlook and Launceston's cloud cover so you can plan tonight's viewing in one glance.
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 Launceston — 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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