Aurora Australis Alert: Get Outside Tonight The Sky Might Just Glow

Grab your jumper and head for the hills or the beach. The spectacular Aurora Australis (Southern Lights) could be visible tonight if the conditions align.

The Australian Space Weather Forecasting Centre (ASWFC) has issued an Aurora Alert, signaling a geomagnetic storm in progress. This means the skies could reveal a stunning aurora in high-latitude Southern Australia.

Where and When to Watch

Best locations: Tasmania and New Zealand's South Island offer the highest chances.
Mainland Southern Australia areas like Victoria, southern NSW, and South Australia may see the lights, but only under very dark skies with minimal light pollution.
Optimal viewing time: generally between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time.
Duration: displays usually last between 1 and 3 hours.

Check your location with the ASWFC’s auroral oval tool to see if your latitude falls inside the "equatorward visibility line" for tonight.

The Science Behind the Lights

"When the sun flings charged particles out—solar wind, coronal mass ejections (CMEs)—they travel toward Earth and hit our planet’s magnetic field. Once trapped, they interact with molecules in the upper atmosphere (oxygen, nitrogen), releasing light."

This interaction creates the mesmerizing glow known as the Southern Lights.

Tip for Viewers

Find a spot as far south as possible, away from city lights, to maximize your chances of witnessing this natural phenomenon.

Enjoy this rare and beautiful light show under clear skies tonight.

Summary: Tonight offers a rare chance to see the Aurora Australis in southern regions of Australia and New Zealand, thanks to an ongoing geomagnetic storm.

Urban List — 2025-11-06