Aurora australis possible on Friday night, cloud and moonlight permitting

Aurora Australis May Appear Friday Night

The colourful aurora australis could be visible from southern Australia on Friday night, weather and moonlight permitting, following a coronal mass ejection (CME) from the sun.

What Are Coronal Mass Ejections?

CMEs are eruptions of solar material and magnetic fields that travel from the sun to Earth. When a CME reaches Earth, it can trigger a geomagnetic storm, sometimes causing auroras to appear at high latitudes near the poles in both hemispheres.

Auroral Displays Explained

These geomagnetic storms create auroral displays—vivid colours lighting up the night sky, known as the northern and southern lights.

Recent Observations

Two CMEs were detected on November 5, prompting the Bureau of Meteorology’s Space Weather Service to issue an aurora watch on November 6. The watch stated:

“A coronal mass ejection is expected to impact the Earth within the next 48 hours, possibly resulting in significant geomagnetic activity and visible auroras during local nighttime hours.”

Photographic Evidence

Image: Aurora australis as seen from Shoalhaven, NSW in June 2025. Source: @micksamsonphoto / Instagram.

Additional Information

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Author's summary: A coronal mass ejection is likely to bring visible auroras to southern Australia this Friday night, depending on weather and moonlight conditions.

Weatherzone — 2025-11-08