Rare Aurora Australis Set to Dazzle Southern Australia Tonight

Rare Aurora Australis Set to Dazzle Southern Australia Tonight

By Paul V. Young – TheNationWeek.com | November 12, 2025

SYDNEY, Australia — A severe geomagnetic storm is poised to deliver a spectacular display of the Aurora Australis across southern Australia tonight (November 12, 2025).

The Bureau of Meteorology’s Space Weather Forecasting Center has issued an “aurora watch,” indicating high visibility potential for the coming hours.

Dr. Rebecca Allen of the Swinburne Space Technology and Industry Institute anticipates the shimmering lights will be visible from sunset (approximately 8 PM AEST) as far east as Sydney and as far west as Perth.

“The east coast may have a slight advantage due to the timing of peak activity,” Allen noted.

For optimal viewing, Allen recommends seeking locations with unobstructed horizons, such as beaches or bays.

“It will be more challenging to observe the aurora in urban environments,” she cautioned.

Bright auroras can be seen from distances of up to 1,000 kilometers under favorable conditions.

This widespread visibility is considered a rare event.

Auroras are created when particles from a geomagnetic storm interact with the Earth’s magnetic field, resulting in breathtaking “curtains of light,” according to Dr. Allen.

These storms are typically triggered by solar wind or flares.

NASA has recorded a significant solar flare within the last 24 hours.

The sun is currently at the peak of its 11-year solar cycle, explaining the increased aurora activity.

“We are seeing unprecedented levels of aurora activity, setting a new benchmark for expectations in the years ahead,” Allen said.

“We haven’t seen anything quite like this before,” she added.

“This raises the question of whether future solar cycles could bring even more intense flares.”significant solar flare within the last 24 hours.

The sun is currently at the peak of its 11-year solar cycle, explaining the increased aurora activity. “We are seeing unprecedented levels of aurora activity,” Dr. Allen explained, “setting a new benchmark for expectations in the years ahead. We haven’t seen anything quite like this before.” She added, “This raises the question of whether future solar cycles could bring even more intense flares.”