Live aurora forecast

Northern lights in Bruny Island tonight

Tasmania, Australia · 53° magnetic latitude · Kp 3-4 threshold

Aurora visibility · Bruny Island
1/9
Unlikely tonight

Kp 1 is well below the Kp 3-4 threshold needed for aurora to be visible from Bruny Island.

QuietStormExtreme
Threshold
Kp 3-4
Magnetic latitude
~53°S
Bz ↓ south
- nT
Solar wind
- km/s
Density
- p/cm³
Cloud
-
Conditions right now: - Kp + Bz + solar wind + cloud + moon

Updated: 12 Jul, 22:52 UTC

7-day outlook for Bruny Island

Today
12 Jul
1
Quiet
Tomorrow
13 Jul
3
Possible
Tue
14 Jul
3
Possible
Wed
15 Jul
3
Possible
Thu
16 Jul
3
Possible
Fri
17 Jul
3
Possible
Sat
18 Jul
3
Possible

Based on CME arrival predictions from NASA DONKI. Arrival times ±6 hours.

auroratonight.space

What Kp is needed here?

Bruny Island sits at a magnetic latitude of approximately 53°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 3-4 before the auroral oval expands far enough north to be visible from here.

At Kp 3-4, visibility is possible from Bruny Island but skies need to be clear and dark. Cloud cover and light pollution remain the main obstacles even when Kp is high enough.

Plan your viewing

Best dark sky sites near Bruny Island

Light pollution is the biggest obstacle after cloud cover. These sites give you the best dark southern horizon within reach.

Cloudy Bay

Get directions ↗
Bortle Class 2 - Excellent dark sky 25 km south of Bruny Island ferry terminal - approximately 35 minute drive

A south-facing beach on the southeast coast of South Bruny, facing directly over open Southern Ocean. The beach is remote with no settlement visible in any direction at night. Bortle Class 2 conditions. The name is unfortunately apt - cloud is common, but a clear night here gives one of the best aurora australis positions in Tasmania accessible without a boat. The road is partly unsealed and suitable for standard vehicles in dry conditions. From the beach, aurora appears above the southern horizon across open water. The D'Entrecasteaux Channel to the north keeps Hobart's light dome well away.

Cape Bruny Lighthouse area

Get directions ↗
Bortle Class 2 - Excellent dark sky 30 km south of the ferry terminal - approximately 40 minute drive

The lighthouse at Cape Bruny stands at the southwestern tip of South Bruny Island, 100 m above the Southern Ocean. The cliff-top position faces south-southwest with a clear ocean horizon. Bortle Class 2 conditions with no light sources visible to the south, southwest, or southeast. The lighthouse area is accessible by a walking track from the car park - approximately 10 minutes each way on a well-maintained path. A heritage site managed by the Neck Game Reserve. At Kp 3-4, aurora australis appearing above the lighthouse cliff-top is a genuine prospect on a clear winter night.

Bortle Class 2-3 - Excellent dark sky 10 km south of the ferry terminal - approximately 15 minute drive

A narrow isthmus connecting North and South Bruny, with beaches facing east and west. The western beach faces out toward the D'Entrecasteaux Channel; the eastern beach faces Adventure Bay. From the boardwalk at The Neck, both the southern and southeastern sky are visible above the water. A penguin colony uses the beach at night - keep noise and light to a minimum. The Neck has a lookout accessible by steps. Hobart's glow is faintly visible to the north from the highest points but does not significantly affect the southern horizon. The most accessible dark position on Bruny Island for visitors who have just arrived on the ferry.

When to go

Best time to see the aurora australis in Bruny Island

Bruny Island's aurora australis season runs from April through August, centred on the southern winter when nights are longest and darkest. The equinox months of March and September bring a boost in geomagnetic activity. Summer months bring too much twilight for aurora to show at this latitude.

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.

October through February brings persistent twilight that washes out the aurora australis. Strong events during these months remain invisible because the sky never gets dark enough.

Up to 8 locations

Bruny Island

Australia

Unlikely
Kp 1 need Kp 3-4
Checking darkness…
Hobart

Australia

Unlikely
Kp 1 need Kp 5-6
Checking darkness…
Dover

Australia

Unlikely
Kp 1 need Kp 3-4
Checking darkness…
The odds

How often does the aurora appear in Bruny Island?

Average nights per month the Kp reached Bruny Island's threshold of 3+, from 15 years of geomagnetic data (2010–2024).

10.2Jan
11.2Feb
13.6Mar
12.4Apr
10.7May
9Jun
10.1Jul
12.3Aug
13.2Sep
12.8Oct
10.3Nov
9.3Dec

Counts the Kp 3+ threshold only - cloud cover and local darkness are not included.
Kp data: GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, CC BY 4.0

Make it happen

Plan your trip to Bruny Island

Based on 15 years of geomagnetic data (2010–2024)

1st
March
13.6
avg aurora nights
Stay 3+ nights for 80% chance
2nd
September
13.2
avg aurora nights
Stay 3+ nights for 80% chance
3rd
October
12.8
avg aurora nights
Stay 4+ nights for 80% chance

Best window

The August to October window averages 38 aurora nights - the strongest consecutive stretch of the year.

How long to stay

For your best chance in March, plan at least 3 nights.

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.

From the community

Aurora photographs from Bruny Island

Real photos sourced from Wikimedia Commons.

Aurora over Bruny IslandAurora over Bruny Island
Aurora over Bruny IslandAurora over Bruny Island
Aurora over Bruny IslandAurora over Bruny Island
Aurora over Bruny IslandAurora over Bruny Island
Aurora over Bruny IslandAurora over Bruny Island
Aurora over Bruny IslandAurora over Bruny Island
Questions

Common questions about aurora in Bruny Island

Can you see aurora australis from Bruny Island?
Yes, and Bruny Island is one of the more accessible high-quality positions in Tasmania. At 53°S magnetic latitude, Kp 3-4 is the threshold from Cloudy Bay and Cape Bruny. The island sits south of Hobart in D'Entrecasteaux Channel, facing the open Southern Ocean. Bortle Class 2 conditions at the southern beaches put it ahead of Hobart's urban dark sky in quality terms. Aurora australis has been photographed from Bruny Island regularly during the current solar cycle.
How do you get to Bruny Island?
By ferry from Kettering, 35 km south of Hobart. The Bruny Island Ferry runs several times per day. The crossing takes 15-20 minutes. There is a fee for vehicles. During storm events that attract aurora chasers, the last ferry timing matters - check the schedule carefully if you plan to stay for late-night viewing. Accommodation on South Bruny is limited; the island has a small number of self-contained properties and a caravan park. Alternatively, take the last ferry across in the afternoon, view aurora from Cloudy Bay or The Neck, and take the first morning ferry back.
What Kp is needed for aurora at Bruny Island?
Kp 3-4 from south-facing positions on South Bruny Island. At 53°S magnetic latitude, Bruny Island sits in the same aurora-accessible zone as Strahan and Dover. Kp 3 is mild geomagnetic activity that occurs dozens of times per year during solar maximum. Combined with Bortle Class 2 dark sky, Kp 3-4 events produce detectable aurora from the southern beaches - often only on camera at the lower end of the range, but visible to the naked eye at Kp 4+.
When is the best time for aurora on Bruny Island?
May to August gives the longest dark nights. Southern Tasmania at 43.5°S geographic has up to 14 hours of darkness in mid-winter. The September equinox is statistically the most active geomagnetic period. Bruny Island's southern position and proximity to Hobart make it a practical option when storm events are forecast on short notice - the ferry crossing is quick and the island is a known quantity for Hobart-based aurora observers.
How does Bruny Island compare to Cockle Creek for aurora?
Cockle Creek is at 43.5°S geographic (53-54°S magnetic), similar to Bruny's southern tip. Both are at the same Kp 3-4 threshold range. The difference is access. Bruny Island requires the ferry but the island has basic accommodation and infrastructure. Cockle Creek is accessible by road (90 km from Hobart) but has only basic camping - no services. For a day-trip aurora chase from Hobart, either works. Cockle Creek avoids the ferry timing constraint. Bruny Island gives more accommodation options if you plan to stay overnight.
Photograph the aurora

Recommended gear

Tested picks for capturing the aurora on long, cold nights.

As an Amazon Associate, Aurora Tonight earns from qualifying purchases. Affiliate links never influence the forecast or which gear is recommended.

Aurora Tonight

Aurora Tonight

Add to your home screen for instant aurora alerts

Add to your home screen

Tap then Add to Home Screen for instant aurora alerts