Update May 9: If you're chasing the glow, Canon photographer Michael Haluwana has shared his top ten tips for capturing the Southern Lights this winter.
Here in Australia, we’re lucky to have some pretty mind-blowing natural wonders on our doorstep. But right now, the most hyped is undoubtedly the Aurora Australis, also known as the Southern Lights. This dramatic light display paints the night sky with glowing beams that dance in every colour of the rainbow. Best of all, it’s visible to the naked eye across the southernmost parts of Australia.
You might have noticed that the Aurora Australis was a little easier to spot last year. That’s because the Aurora reached the peak of its 11-year solar cycle in October, with scientists predicting that we could witness equally impressive light shows any time between now and the end of 2025. Here’s everything you need to know about seeing the Aurora Australis this year.
What is the Aurora Australis?
The Aurora Australis is a breathtaking natural light display that glows across the southern skies. It’s the Southern Hemisphere’s equivalent of the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights).
What causes the Aurora Australis?
The Aurora Australis occurs when charged electrons from the sun collide with gas molecules in the Earth’s atmosphere. These particles are first launched from the sun’s surface, then accelerated again by Earth’s magnetic field, creating glowing waves of colour that ripple through the night sky.
Dr Andrew Cole, Professor of Astrophysics, Head of Physics at the University of Tasmania and Director of Greenhill Observatory, explains, “The colours of the Aurora are controlled by the energy of the electrons and the type of gas molecules in the air (red and green from oxygen, violet from nitrogen). They typically are only visible near the north and south poles, because that’s where the Earth’s magnetic field comes down into the atmosphere, where the oxygen and nitrogen are.”
Will this year's Aurora Australis be the biggest in a decade?
Like any weather event, scientists can’t fully predict auroral activity until just a few days – or even a few hours – in advance. The sun’s solar cycle takes 11 years to go from maximum to minimum activity and back again. It most recently peaked in October 2024, and Dr Cole notes that these prime conditions for spotting the Aurora Australis should continue into 2025, given the sun’s magnetic activity is still very active.
Dr Cole said, “The auroral displays in May 2024 were bigger than any since 2003, but we could potentially see equally good ones any time between now and the end of 2025."
He adds, “The sun is predicted to stay fairly active all the way until the end of 2025, or maybe into the middle of 2026. After that, it will decline to its quiet phase until about 2030 to 2031.”
Where to see the Aurora Australis?
“Weaker auroras are more common than strong ones, and these are strongly concentrated towards the poles, so Tasmania is by far the most likely part of Australia (outside of Antarctica) to see auroras,” Dr Cole advises.
“The stronger the auroras get, the more they can move towards middle latitudes, so Victoria, southern Western Australia and South Australia are also good viewing zones. Only the strongest, rarest auroras are visible from northern New South Wales or Queensland.”
How to see the Aurora Australis?
To catch the full brilliance of the Aurora Australis, you’ll want to find a south-facing spot far away from city lights. Here’s our guide to the best spots for viewing the Southern Lights in Tasmania and Victoria, plus more incredible stargazing locations across Australia.
When to see the Aurora Australis?
Like its northern sister, it’s hard to predict when the Aurora Australis will show up. Sightings are most common in winter, due to more hours of darkness, and around the equinoxes, at the end of September and the end of March each year. The light display generally peaks around midnight, and lasts around one to three hours.
You can keep track of the Southern Lights by following this real-time map or joining this Facebook group that posts current Aurora alerts around Australia.