In case you missed it, the aurora australis was visible from Australian skies last night.
But if you only caught it via the many, many social media posts, we have good news – you might still be able to see the natural, colourful light display tonight.
The BOM has confirmed that the aurora will likely be visible again tonight.
So, here’s what you need to know.
What is the aurora australis?
Aurora australis is a natural display of colourful lights, seen in the night sky.
The phenomenon is caused by coronal mass ejections (CMEs), which are expulsions of magnetised plasma from a star.
As CMEs hit Earth, they disrupt the planet’s magnetic field with geomagnetic storms, leading to the light display.
Also known as the southern lights, they’re usually visible from the southernmost points of the country.
How can I see the aurora australis?
The geomagnetic storms that cause the light display are forecast again for Thursday night.
The further south you are, the more likely you are to see the lights.
However, many NSW residents spotted the lights last night.
Also, in 2024, the lights were seen as high as Queensland’s central coast.
The strength of the storms is an indication that they’ll be more visible, so it’s definitely worth trying your luck.
When will the aurora be visible again?
Sadly, it’s not easy to predict when the lights will be visible again.
Their visibility is dependent on the strength of the geomagnetic storm.
Wednesday night was a G4-level storm, and in 2024, we experienced a G5-level storm.
Prior to that, the last G5-level storm was 20 years earlier, in 2003.
Another G4-level storm is predicted for tonight, so make sure you try to see it while you can.
Any tips for seeing the aurora australis?
Anecdotally, it can be seen more clearly through your camera lens or phone.
If you look through your phone camera and turn on night mode, you might be able to see it clearly.
If you want to photograph the australis, go without flash.
Or, you can just enjoy the light show.
