Aurora Australis over Lion Rock, Southwest National Park, Tasmania - Jamen Percy (Wikimedia Commons)
The Aurora Australis or Southern Lights is a breathtaking natural light display that radiates across the southern skies. It occurs when charged electrons from the sun collide with gas molecules in the earth’s atmosphere. These particles are first launched from the sun’s surface, then accelerated again by Earth’s magnetic field, creating glowing waves of colour that ripple through the night sky.
We are lucky in southern Australia to have experienced many sightings of the Aurora Australis in 2024-2025. To view this amazing spectacle, you need to find a place far away from the bright city lights, so you can see the dancing, twinkling colours in the dark, skies. The light display generally lasts 1-3 hours and is typically brightest between 10pm and 2am.
Keep an eye out for media reports on when sightings are most likely to occur. The most common are during the cooler months (May to August) and at the September spring equinox. Throughout this period, solar winds are more likely to interact with the Earth’s magnetic field, creating this beautiful cosmic phenomenon.
For extra inspiration, check out Time Out’s guide to the most incredible stargazing locations across Australia.