Northern lights in Albany tonight
Western Australia · 48° magnetic latitude · Kp 5-6 threshold
Kp 1 is well below the Kp 5-6 threshold needed for aurora to be visible from Albany.
7-day outlook for Albany
Based on CME arrival predictions from NASA DONKI. Arrival times ±6 hours.
auroratonight.space
What Kp is needed here?
Albany sits at a magnetic latitude of approximately 48°S. The Kp index - a global measure of geomagnetic activity on a scale from 0 (quiet) to 9 (extreme storm), updated every 3 hours - needs to reach Kp 5-6 before the auroral oval expands far enough north to be visible from here.
At Kp 5-6, visibility is possible from Albany but skies need to be clear and dark. Cloud cover and light pollution remain the main obstacles even when Kp is high enough.
Best dark sky sites near Albany
Light pollution is the biggest obstacle after cloud cover. These sites give you the best dark southern horizon within reach.
Torndirrup National Park
Get directions ↗The granite headlands and cliff tops of Torndirrup National Park give direct exposure to the Southern Ocean. The Natural Bridge and The Gap lookouts face south-southwest with no land between here and Antarctica. Light pollution from Albany is to the north, leaving the southern sky essentially unaffected. The park road is sealed and accessible at night. From the southern headlands, the horizon drops directly to open ocean. At Kp 5-6, aurora australis appears as a green or white arc low to the south. One of the most accessible south-coast dark sky positions in Western Australia.
Bald Head
Get directions ↗A quartzite headland at the tip of the Flinders Peninsula, reached by a 9 km return walk from the Cheynes Beach car park in Torndirrup National Park. The elevated position gives 180° southern sky exposure with Bald Head dropping away to the Southern Ocean on three sides. No artificial light is visible from the headland. Bortle Class 2-3 conditions. The walk requires a headtorch and is not recommended in poor conditions. For serious aurora photography, this position offers the clearest southern horizon in the Albany area.
Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve
Get directions ↗A coastal reserve with beaches and headlands facing south across Bremer Bay. Little Beach and the reserve headlands give south-facing positions away from Albany's light dome. The reserve is low-traffic and dark on clear nights. Drive east from Albany on Lower Denmark Road and Nanarup Road. The beaches are sandy and flat, making viewing comfortable. An alternative to Torndirrup for observers who prefer a beach position over cliff-top viewing. The reserve coastline is less developed and darker than the main Albany foreshore.
Best time to see the aurora australis in Albany
At 48°S magnetic latitude, Albany sits at the outer edge of regular aurora australis territory. Only the southern winter months, May through July, occasionally bring storms powerful enough to push the oval this far north. Outside this window, there is insufficient darkness for aurora to be visible.
Activity peaks around the March and September equinoxes, when Earth's magnetic field geometry is most favourable for coupling with the solar wind. These windows produce the strongest aurora australis events of the year for observers at this latitude.
Outside May through July, twilight prevents aurora visibility even during significant geomagnetic storms. The season is short, but equinox months on either side of winter can extend it when timing is favourable.
Other Australia aurora forecasts
Up to 8 locations
How often does the aurora appear in Albany?
Average nights per month the Kp reached Albany's threshold of 5+, from 15 years of geomagnetic data (2010–2024).
Counts the Kp 5+ threshold only - cloud cover and local darkness are not included.
Kp data: GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, CC BY 4.0
Plan your trip to Albany
Best window
The August to October window averages 4 aurora nights - the strongest consecutive stretch of the year.
How long to stay
Aurora at this latitude requires patience - allow as many nights as possible during March.
Aurora activity peaks at the March and September equinoxes in both hemispheres. This is driven by the angle of Earth's magnetic field relative to the solar wind, not by local seasons. Winter months at this latitude offer longer dark nights for observing, but March and September average the highest number of aurora nights in the historical data.
Related pages
Aurora Australis Australia
Australia aurora hub with current Kp status.
Read →Aurora Australis Western Australia
Western Australia overview - Albany, Esperance, south coast.
Read →Aurora Australis Esperance
Esperance - Cape Le Grand, Lucky Bay, darkest WA coast.
Read →Aurora Australis in Australia
Complete guide to aurora australis in Australia - where, when, and what Kp.
Read →What Is the Kp Index?
How Kp 5-6 translates to aurora visibility at 48°S magnetic.
Read →Aurora photographs from Albany
Real photos sourced from Wikimedia Commons.
Aurora over AlbanyPlanning your aurora trip
In-depth guides to help you plan a trip to see the northern lights.
Travel GuideAustraliaAurora Australis in Australia - Where to See It
Tasmania leads for aurora australis in Australia - Cradle Mountain, Hobart, and the south coast. What Kp is needed and when to go.
Travel GuideAll destinationsHow to Plan a Northern Lights Trip
Destination, timing, accommodation, app setup, and how to read a space weather forecast.
PlanningAll destinationsBest Time to See the Northern Lights
Month-by-month breakdown of aurora probability, darkness windows, and weather patterns.










