Northern lights in Hobart tonight
Tasmania, Australia · 54° magnetic latitude · Kp 5 threshold
Kp 1 is well below the Kp 5 threshold needed for aurora to be visible from Hobart.
7-day outlook for Hobart
Based on CME arrival predictions from NASA DONKI. Arrival times ±6 hours.
auroratonight.space
What Kp is needed here?
Hobart sits at a magnetic latitude of approximately 54°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 before the auroral oval expands far enough north to be visible from here.
At Kp 5, visibility is possible from Hobart 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 Hobart
Light pollution is the biggest obstacle after cloud cover. These sites give you the best dark southern horizon within reach.
South Arm Peninsula
Get directions ↗A narrow peninsula 30 km southeast of Hobart facing south across Frederick Henry Bay and Storm Bay toward the open Southern Ocean. The tip at Calverts Hill and the beaches on the east shore give south-facing positions with minimal light pollution. The drive from Hobart takes 35 minutes via Rokeby. One of the most accessible dark sky positions from the city and frequently used by Hobart aurora photographers.
Bruny Island south coast
Get directions ↗The southern end of Bruny Island gives some of the darkest skies within reach of Hobart. The south-facing beaches at the Adventure Bay area look out over a wide stretch of open Southern Ocean. Take the ferry from Kettering (30 minutes south of Hobart) - a 15-minute crossing. The island's south tip, Labillardiere Peninsula, faces directly south. Minimal light pollution south of Adventure Bay.
Cockle Creek (South West National Park)
Get directions ↗The southernmost accessible road in Australia. A 90-minute drive from Hobart via Huonville and Dover, the road ends at Cockle Creek in the South West National Park. The beach faces south across Recherche Bay toward Antarctica. No artificial light for many kilometres in any direction. On a clear night this is one of the darkest positions accessible by road in Australia. Aurora australis has been photographed here regularly during G1-G2 events.
Best time to see the aurora australis in Hobart
At 54°S magnetic latitude, Hobart 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.
Up to 8 locations
How often does the aurora appear in Hobart?
Average nights per month the Kp reached Hobart'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 Hobart
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 - all locations with current Kp status.
Read →Aurora Australis
Southern lights hub with live Kp forecast.
Read →Aurora Australis Launceston
Launceston - northern Tasmania, Kp 5-6.
Read →What Is the Kp Index?
How Kp 5 translates to aurora visibility at 54°S.
Read →Northern Lights Viewing Tips
Dark site selection and camera settings - same principles for aurora australis.
Read →Aurora photographs from Hobart
Real photos sourced from Wikimedia Commons.
Aurora over Hobart 
Aurora over Hobart 
Aurora over Hobart 
Aurora over Hobart 
Aurora over Hobart 
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