Aurora australis Albany tonight

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.

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.

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.