Winter's run of celestial spectacles isn't over just yet. A fresh solar storm is forecast to reach Earth on Friday 3 July, bringing with it another opportunity to witness the Aurora Australis dancing across southern skies.
A G2 (moderate) geomagnetic storm has been forecast following an X1.1-class solar flare that erupted from sunspot AR4479 earlier today. The eruption launched what's known as a partial halo coronal mass ejection (CME). While the bulk of the solar plasma is expected to travel north of the Sun–Earth line, forecasters say Earth is still in line for a glancing impact — enough to potentially ignite the Southern Lights across parts of Australia and New Zealand.
If conditions hold, Friday evening could be one worth stepping outside for.
Who has the best chance of seeing it?
The strongest displays are expected across New Zealand, Tasmania and Victoria, where auroral activity is most commonly observed.
There's also the possibility of sightings from southern regions of New South Wales, the ACT, South Australia and southerly regions of Western Australia, provided geomagnetic activity reaches the predicted G2 level and skies remain clear.
Even if the lights appear faint in person, don't be surprised if your phone sees more than your eyes do. Smartphone cameras are often able to capture the aurora's vibrant greens, pinks and purples with far greater sensitivity than the naked eye.
What time is best for viewing?
The current forecast suggests heading outside around 60–70 minutes after sunset on Friday 3 July 2026. By then, the sky should be dark enough to give the aurora the best chance of standing out, assuming the geomagnetic storm arrives as expected.
Estimated local viewing times are as follows:
- Tasmania: approximately 6:00pm–6:05pm
- Victoria: approximately 6:05pm–6:10pm
- New South Wales: approximately 6:00pm–6:05pm
- ACT: approximately 6:00pm–6:05pm
- South Australia: approximately 6:05pm–6:10pm
- Western Australia: approximately 6:10pm–6:15pm
- New Zealand (Auckland): approximately 6:15pm–6:20pm
- New Zealand (Christchurch): approximately 5:50pm–5:55pm
Solar weather is notoriously unpredictable, however, so timings may shift slightly depending on when the CME reaches Earth's magnetic field.
So what's happening on the Sun?
The display all begins roughly 150 million kilometres away.
Earlier today, the Sun released an X1.1-class solar flare from active sunspot AR4479, sending a cloud of electrically charged particles into space. Although most of the ejected material is expected to miss Earth, the expanding edge of the CME is forecast to brush past our planet.
When those charged particles collide with Earth's magnetic field, they can trigger geomagnetic storms that funnel energy towards the poles, creating the shimmering curtains of colour known as the Aurora Australis.
A few tips before you head out
If you're planning to chase the lights, your location matters just as much as the forecast. Look for somewhere with little to no light pollution and a clear, unobstructed view towards the southern horizon. Beaches, lookouts and rural areas are often your best bet.
And don't pack up too quickly if you can't immediately see anything. The aurora can ebb and flow throughout the evening, and a smartphone set to Night Mode or a longer exposure may reveal colours invisible to the naked eye.
As always, visibility will ultimately depend on cloud cover, local weather conditions and how strongly the geomagnetic storm develops once it reaches Earth. But if forecasts prove accurate, Friday night could offer another rare reminder that some of nature's most extraordinary shows happen after dark.
Feature image: one.
