It’s not often Australia is treated to a phenomenon like an aurora. But the Bureau of Meteorology has issued a rare alert, revealing a “severe geomagnetic storm” is underway, visible in nearly every state.
A major burst of energy released by the sun is expected to last 48 hours, beginning on Tuesday, January 20 until early Wednesday morning.
This storm is the strongest solar radiation storm in more than 20 years, since October 2003. So, this event is unmissable!
“An S4 severe solar radiation storm is now in progress. This is the largest solar radiation storm in over 20 years,” the US National Weather Service’s Space Weather Prediction Centre shared on X. “The last time S4 levels were observed was in October 2003. Potential effects are mainly limited to space launch, aviation, and satellite operations.”
What time will the aurora australis be visible in Australia?
The BOM said the aurora will perform from January 19 to January 20. You can see real-time tracking of the event on NOAA’s 30-minute aurora forecast.
While the impressive solar activity will see the aurora pushed further north than typical, those residing in the southern Australia states will have the best seats in the house. Night owls in Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and southern Western Australia are more likely to see the aurora.
For those in NSW, VIC, TAS, ACT, SA and QLD, the best viewing time will be from 10:30pm to 2:30am. Meanwhile, 9:30pm to 1:30am for NT residents, and 8:00pm to 12:00am for WA.
However, sightings are never guaranteed given it depends on clear skies and light pollution.
What is an aurora?
An aurora is nature’s fascinating fireworks that some travel the globe to watch, but what is the science behind it?
Well, the geomagnetic storm is caused by a coronal mass ejection – a large cloud of magnetised plasma erupting from the Sun’s outer atmosphere.
When a coronal mass ejection hits the Earth, it disrupts our planet’s magnetic field and creates a geomagnetic storm.
At the moment, auroras are frequent, but they won’t last much longer. The Sun is at the peak of an 11-year cycle, known as the solar maximum. The solar minimum is expected to begin in 2030; therefore, the number of auroras will decrease.
How to take pictures of the aurora?
We’ve all seen those picture-perfect shots of auroras. But not all of us are professional photographers with expensive equipment.
If you’re using an iPhone, users are encouraged to turn on night mode, maximum exposure time, and use a tripod or stable surface.
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