Missed the aurora australis? You should get another chance to see the southern lights tonight (2024)

Missed out on last night's aurora australis light show?

Fortunately the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has confirmed the southern lights should be visible once again tonight.

Here's what you need to know.

Why will the lights still be visible?

According to the BOM, the geomagneticstorms that have caused the aurora australis over the weekend are forecast to continue.

University of Tasmania physics professor Andrew Cole says while the peak has passed, another light show may be visible tonight.

"Because things are happening right now during daylight I would start looking as soon as it gets dark after sunset, and just find an area that's free from obstructions on the southern horizon, generally free from city lights," he said.

ANU astrophysicist Brad Tucker says the Southern Lights may be visible thought until the early hours of Monday.

"The aurora have been quite extreme. Often, given that the Sun has been quite active lately, you can see it decently in Tasmania," he said.

"But here, large parts of Australia — in some places it's predicted to reachas far north as Queensland, which is fairly rare."

Missed the aurora australis? You should get another chance to see the southern lights tonight (1)

Geomagnetic storms?

The Australian Space Weather Alert System says: "Coronal mass ejections occur when large clouds of plasma and magnetic field erupt in the Sun's outer atmosphere."

When the mass ejections hit Earth, they cause geomagnetic storms.

Geomagnetic storms are a temporary disturbance of the Earth's magnetosphere caused by a solar wind shock wave.

The result of this a natural light display of bright colours and shapes in the sky.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration warns the storms pose a risk to radio, GPS and satellite communications.

Space scientist Robert Steenburgh said coronal mass ejections coming from the Sun carried a magnetic field which caused interruptions.

"As these things slam into our magnetic field, our magnetic field starts moving and that movement will induce currents on conductors like powerlines and train tracks and that induced current is unwelcome."

"For most people here on planet Earth, they won’t have to do anything.

"That’s really the gift from space weather: the aurora."

How often do we see them?

The BOM said the current storm occurring across the planet was at a G5 or extreme level.

The last time Earth experienced a G5 storm was in October 2003.

The G-scale is a measure of global geomagnetic activity, which refers to fluctuations in Earth's magnetic field. The G scale ranges from G1 (minor) to G5 (extreme).

Initially the storm was predicted to be a G4 severe level.

According to the BOM, over Australia geomagnetic conditions are lower than the planetary average, equivalent to G3 (strong) level. However, that has not stopped Australians from enjoying the latest light show.

The coronal mass ejections which cause geomagnetic activity are happening all the time. However, they ramp up as the Sun approaches the peak of its 11-year solarmagnetic activitycycle — something that is happening right now.

Any photography tips?

Check out our gallery of photos of the aurora australis taken across Australia

The standard advice for viewing any astronomical event is to get away from city lights, which will wash out the sky.

Another piece of advice is to take photos of the night sky with your phone camera even if you can't see the lights with your naked eye.

"Just go out your back door and take a picture with the newer cell phones, and you'd be amazed at what you see in that picture versus what you see with your eyes," Brent Gordon, from America's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, said.

Missed the aurora australis? You should get another chance to see the southern lights tonight (2)

On social media, keen spotters backed that up, saying a reasonable phone camera with night-vision mode could capture more than the naked eye.

"View the sky through the camera of your phone," one user wrote.

"When there is ambient light around, the sky looks as though there's a misty cloud that is just a bit green but your camera app will pick up the other colours.

"Away from the lights, you can probably see colours without the camera."

But what if you have access to a DSLR or mirrorless camera with interchangeable lenses?

Get a tripod so you can take stable long-exposure photos, and a wide-angle fast lens in the 10mm-35mm range, Space.com suggests.

Use the slowest f-stop possible to let in the most light, and use an iso setting of 800-2,500 depending on how bright the lights are.

A remote shutter release can also help prevent the camera shaking.

Photos of aurora australis taken around Australia

The geomagnetic storm created a lightshow that few had seen before, thrilling amateur and professional photographers.

Here's what the aurora australis looked like around Australia.

Missed the aurora australis? You should get another chance to see the southern lights tonight (3)

Missed the aurora australis? You should get another chance to see the southern lights tonight (4)

Missed the aurora australis? You should get another chance to see the southern lights tonight (5)

Missed the aurora australis? You should get another chance to see the southern lights tonight (6)

Missed the aurora australis? You should get another chance to see the southern lights tonight (7)

Missed the aurora australis? You should get another chance to see the southern lights tonight (8)

ABC/AP

Posted, updated

Missed the aurora australis? You should get another chance to see the southern lights tonight (2024)

FAQs

What time is best to see aurora borealis tonight? ›

The best time to watch the lights is between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m., when geomagnetic activity increases and the aurora borealis is most powerful.

What time is it to see the southern lights? ›

The best time to see the southern lights at its brightest is when the night sky is as dark as it can get. Midnight is the optimal time, as the sun is on the other side of the planet. Be sure to give yourself plenty of time to get to your viewpoint before midnight arrives to make the most of the hour!

Where in the US will the Northern Lights be visible? ›

However, people in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, and Washington might be able to spot the aurora's lights.

How often does aurora australis happen? ›

The Southern Lights can be viewed all year round – although most commonly during winter (May to August) and during the spring equinox in September.

Which direction to look for the Northern Lights? ›

Find a place where you can see to the north ( or south if you are in the southern hemisphere). Given the right vantage point, say for example on top of a hill in the northern hemisphere with an unobstructed view toward the north, a person can see aurora even when it is 1000 km (600 miles) further north.

What time should I go outside to see the Northern Lights? ›

November through to February offer the darkest skies and longer evenings for maximum sky-gazing. The strongest lights tend to appear between 9pm and 2am, though the best sightings often occur between 11pm and midnight.

Can you see the northern lights in the contiguous United States? ›

Acadia National Park, Maine

Maine is the northernmost state in the contiguous U.S., which automatically makes it one of the best places in the country to catch the northern lights. Besides, it is the most forested state in the U.S., with close to 90% of it covered in forests.

Why is the aurora borealis green? ›

The green we see in the aurora is characteristic of oxygen, while hints of purple, blue or pink are caused by nitrogen. “We sometimes see a wonderful scarlet red colour, and this is caused by very high altitude oxygen interacting with solar particles,” adds astronomer Tom.

What is the difference between aurora borealis and aurora australis? ›

The northern lights, or aurora borealis, are a spectacular, colourful display of light commonly seen in the night sky in the northern hemisphere. Auroras in the southern hemisphere are known as the southern lights, or aurora australis.

Can you see the aurora australis from south america? ›

Ushuaia, Argentina

It would seem a likely spot to see the lights. And it is — but when it comes to the aurora australis, "likely" means "possible." Still, the Southern Lights do appear over Ushuaia, and it's remarkably easier to get there, stay there and tour there than, say, South Georgia Island. Or the South Pole.

Which is more beautiful aurora borealis or aurora australis? ›

Aurora borealis has earned more of a reputation because the light dance is more visible from these expansive prime areas, including Alaska, Canada, Greenland, and the Scandinavian countries of Finland, Greenland, Iceland, Sweden, and Norway, which tops the list.

When can I see the northern lights in Michigan? ›

The months of October, November, and April are particularly great for spotting the vivid display of natural lights. At Fresh Coast Cabins, we've had epic northern lights seen over Lake Superior in July so they can be seen at any time throughout the year.

Where is the best place to see the northern lights in Utah? ›

For the best views, head to dark sky parks like Antelope Island State Park, Goblin Valley State Park or Capitol Reef National Park. Their remote, wide open spaces free of light pollution offer ideal conditions for spotting the Northern Lights in Utah.

When can you see the northern lights in Alaska? ›

When is the Best Time to See the Northern Lights in Alaska? The best time to see the northern lights in Alaska is from late August to mid-April, when the nights are long and dark. (You won't see them during the summer months because of Alaska's midnight sun.)

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