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Live aurora australis forecast

Aurora australis Australia tonight

Tasmania at 54°S magnetic latitude is Australia's most accessible aurora destination — Hobart needs Kp 5 from south-facing dark sites. Southern Victoria and South Australia need Kp 6-7. Face south and look low on the horizon. Peak season is June to August.

Current Kp: 1 · Quiet

Aurora australis visibility by Australian location

Hobart

Unlikely

Tasmania — kunanyi/Mt Wellington and Bruny Island

~54°S mag. lat. · Needs Kp 5+

Launceston

Unlikely

Northern Tasmania — Ben Lomond alpine dark sky

~52°S mag. lat. · Needs Kp 5+

Mount Gambier

Unlikely

South Australia — Canunda NP south coast

~51°S mag. lat. · Needs Kp 6+

Falls Creek

Unlikely

Victorian Alps — Bogong High Plains at 1600 m

~50°S mag. lat. · Needs Kp 6+

Melbourne

Unlikely

Point Nepean and Wilson's Promontory

~48°S mag. lat. · Needs Kp 7+

Australian aurora at a glance

Tasmania is Australia's aurora capital. At 54°S magnetic latitude, Hobart has the lowest Kp threshold of any mainland or island Australian city — equivalent to Christchurch in New Zealand. The south coast of Tasmania faces directly across the Southern Ocean toward Antarctica with no land obstruction. South Arm Peninsula, Bruny Island, and Cockle Creek give the best south-facing dark sky positions within reach of Hobart.

On the mainland, Wilson's Promontory is the southernmost point of Australia and gives a south-facing Bass Strait horizon. Falls Creek in the Victorian Alps sits at 1600 m elevation above valley haze with an open southern sky. Melbourne requires Kp 7 — only reached during G3+ storms. The G5 storm of May 2024 produced aurora visible across all of Tasmania and southern Victoria, confirming the potential during major events.

Related pages

Aurora Australis

Southern lights hub — Kp forecast and all southern hemisphere locations.

Aurora Australis New Zealand

New Zealand aurora hub — lower thresholds than mainland Australia.

Aurora Australis Hobart Tonight

Hobart, Tasmania — Australia's lowest aurora threshold at 54°S.

What Is the Kp Index?

How the Kp scale works and why latitude sets the threshold.

Aurora Locations Worldwide

Global aurora forecast hub.

Common questions

Aurora australis in Australia — Tasmania, Victoria, South Australia, and what to expect.

Can you see aurora australis in Australia?
Yes, from Tasmania and parts of southern mainland Australia during geomagnetic storms. Tasmania at 54°S magnetic latitude needs Kp 5 — similar to Christchurch in New Zealand. Southern Victoria and South Australia need Kp 6-7. Melbourne needs Kp 7 from a dark south-facing site. During the G5 storm of May 2024, aurora australis was photographed across all of Tasmania and southern Victoria.
Where is the best place to see aurora australis in Australia?
Tasmania gives the best regular access in Australia. Hobart at 54°S magnetic latitude needs Kp 5 — the lowest threshold of any Australian city. South Arm Peninsula and Bruny Island south coast face south across the Southern Ocean with very low light pollution. In Victoria, Wilson's Promontory is the southernmost point of mainland Australia and gives exceptional south-facing dark sky. Falls Creek in the alpine area provides elevation above valley haze.
What Kp is needed for aurora in Tasmania?
Kp 5 from Hobart and southern Tasmania. Kp 5-6 from Launceston. At 54°S magnetic latitude, Hobart is within range of the auroral oval during G1-G2 storms. Aurora australis has been seen from Hobart several times during the current solar cycle. The south coast of Tasmania — Bruny Island, Cockle Creek, South Arm — gives the best south-facing dark sky positions.
When is the best season for aurora australis in Australia?
June to August — the southern hemisphere winter. Tasmania has adequate darkness from April to September. The June and July solstice period gives the longest dark nights at 43°S geographic latitude (about 14 hours). The September equinox is statistically the most geomagnetically active period of the year. Avoid December to February when nights are less than 9 hours.
Can you see aurora australis from Melbourne?
Yes, but only during strong geomagnetic storms (Kp 7+). Melbourne at 48°S magnetic latitude needs Kp 7 from a dark south-facing site outside the city. Point Nepean National Park, Cape Schanck, and Wilson's Promontory all give south-facing ocean horizons. The G5 storm of May 2024 produced aurora visible from Melbourne and even from Sydney during the peak. Outside of G3-G4+ storms, drive to Tasmania for reliable sightings.