The Aurora Australis — the Southern Lights — is now visible across mainland Australia several times per year. The 2024–2026 solar maximum has produced the strongest geomagnetic storms in two decades, with the May and October 2024 G5 superstorms lighting up suburbs of Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Sydney and even Brisbane. This guide explains exactly how to predict tonight's aurora, where to go, and how to photograph it from anywhere in Australia.
The short answer: watch the planetary Kp index. Tasmania needs Kp 4+, Victoria and South Australia need Kp 6+, NSW and the ACT need Kp 7+, and Queensland and the NT need Kp 8+ for visible aurora. The autumn and spring equinoxes (March, April, September, October) are the most active months, and the two hours either side of midnight produce the best displays.
How the Aurora Australis forms
Aurora is caused by charged particles from the Sun — the solar wind — colliding with oxygen and nitrogen atoms in Earth's upper atmosphere. The particles are funnelled along Earth's magnetic field lines toward the poles, producing the auroral oval over both the Arctic (Aurora Borealis) and Antarctic (Aurora Australis). Green is the most common colour and comes from oxygen at 100–300 km altitude; red comes from oxygen above 300 km; purple and blue from nitrogen.
The size of the auroral oval grows during geomagnetic storms triggered by coronal mass ejections (CMEs) and high-speed solar wind streams. When the oval expands far enough north, the aurora becomes visible from lower latitudes — that's when Australians outside Tasmania get their chance.
How to read the Kp index and aurora forecast
The planetary Kp index runs from 0 to 9 and measures global geomagnetic activity averaged over three hours. NOAA publishes a 3-day Kp forecast updated every three hours that is the gold-standard aurora prediction tool worldwide. A Kp value of 5 corresponds to a G1 minor geomagnetic storm, Kp 6 = G2, Kp 7 = G3, Kp 8 = G4, Kp 9 = G5 — the same scale NOAA uses for space-weather alerts.
Pair the Kp forecast with NOAA's OVATION model, which shows the predicted position of the auroral oval over the next 30 minutes. The further north the oval pushes, the further into mainland Australia the aurora becomes visible. Both are aggregated live on this site's national aurora forecast page.
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.
How to see the Aurora Australis tonight — 6 steps
- Check tonight's planetary Kp. Match it to your state's threshold (above).
- Cross-check the geomagnetic storm category. G1+ for Tasmania, G2+ for Victoria/SA, G3+ for NSW/ACT, G4+ for Queensland.
- Check cloud cover and moon phase. Under 30% cloud and a moon below half-illumination are ideal.
- Drive to a dark-sky south-facing location. Coastal cliffs or elevated lookouts away from city lights.
- Let your eyes adapt and set up your camera. 20 minutes of darkness; tripod, ISO 1600–6400, widest aperture, 5–15 second exposure.
- Watch between 10pm and 2am. Auroral substorms peak near magnetic midnight — keep watching for at least an hour.
Best months and time of night for Aurora Australis
The Russell–McPherron effect makes the autumn (March–April) and spring (September–October) equinoxes the most active aurora months. During these periods Earth's magnetic field aligns most efficiently with the solar wind, more than doubling the average frequency of G1+ storms compared to June and December.
Auroral substorms — the bursts of activity that produce visible displays — typically peak two hours either side of magnetic midnight, which falls around 10pm to 2am local time across most of Australia. The further you can stay up, the better your chances.
Best Aurora Australis viewing locations in Australia
- Tasmania: South Arm Peninsula, Tinderbox, Goat Bluff, Cockle Creek, Cradle Mountain — see Aurora Tasmania.
- Victoria: Aireys Inlet, Cape Schanck, Wilsons Promontory — see Aurora Victoria.
- South Australia: Cape Jervis, Port Willunga, Mount Gambier — see Aurora South Australia.
- Western Australia: Albany (Torndirrup NP), Cape Leeuwin — see Aurora WA.
- NSW & ACT: Eden's Boyd Tower, Mount Stromlo — see Aurora NSW.
Camera settings for photographing aurora
DSLR / mirrorless
- Lens: wide-angle (14–24 mm), f/1.8–f/2.8
- ISO: 1600–6400 (start at 3200)
- Shutter: 5–15 seconds
- Focus: manual, infinity (focus on a bright star with live view)
- White balance: 3500–4500 K
- Format: RAW for post-processing
Modern smartphones
- Mode: Night mode (iPhone 12+, Pixel 6+, Samsung S21+)
- Exposure: 10–30 seconds
- Tripod or steady surface essential
- Pro mode: ISO 3200, 10s exposure if available
- Use a Bluetooth remote or self-timer to avoid shake
What to bring and wear
Aurora viewing means standing still in the dark for hours, often near the coast where temperatures fall below 5°C even in autumn. Bring thermal layers, a beanie, gloves and a windproof outer shell. A red-light torch preserves night vision better than white light. A thermos of hot drink, snacks and a camp chair turn a cold night into a comfortable one. If you're driving to a remote spot, tell someone your plans and carry a charged phone.
Why the moon and clouds matter
A full moon washes out faint auroral glow — even a strong Kp 6 display can disappear behind moonlight. Aim for nights within 5 days of new moon, or wait for the moon to set. Cloud cover is just as critical: anything above 60% will block all but the strongest displays. This site's city aurora pages show tonight's cloud cover for the major southern capitals so you can decide in one glance whether the drive is worth it.
Best aurora forecast apps and alerts
- BOM Space Weather Services alerts — free email alerts for G1+ storms over Australia.
- NOAA SWPC — 3-day Kp forecast, OVATION map, real-time alerts.
- Glendale App, Aurora Forecast 3D — popular phone apps wrapping the NOAA Kp feed.
- Aurora Australis Forecast (Facebook group) — Australia's largest live-spotting community.