Aurora Australis Alert: Tonight’s Sky Might Glow
Grab your jumper and head outside. The beautiful Aurora Australis, or Southern Lights, could be visible tonight if conditions align. An alert from the Australian Space Weather Forecasting Centre (ASWFC) indicates a geomagnetic storm is underway, creating favorable conditions for an aurora in high-latitude Southern Australia.
Where to Watch
- Best locations are far south, away from city lights.
- Tasmania offers the highest chances, followed by New Zealand's South Island.
- Mainland Southern Australia regions such as Victoria, southern New South Wales, and South Australia might also see the display, but require very dark skies with minimal light pollution.
When to Watch
The prime viewing time is generally between 10 PM and 2 AM local time, with the aurora typically lasting 1 to 3 hours.
How to Check Visibility
Use the ASWFC’s auroral oval tool to see if your location falls inside the “equatorward visibility line” tonight.
What Causes the Aurora?
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.
These interactions create the mesmerizing glow of the aurora that dances across the night sky.
Author’s summary: The Aurora Australis may light up southern skies tonight due to a geomagnetic storm, offering a rare and stunning natural spectacle for those in dark, southern locations.
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