We’re only a few weeks into 2026, but it looks another Aurora Australis has already illuminated the skies. A major solar event known as a Coronial Mass Ejection (or CME) was detected on January 19, meaning the sun released a large burst of energy that catapulted towards Earth. According to reports, it actually hit severe geomagnetic storm levels.

This type of solar activity can disturb our planet’s magnetic field and create the conditions for the aurora to appear — lighting up the night sky across parts of Australia and New Zealand. While the main event might have passed, here's what you need to know to catch it on its way out.

When is the next Aurora Australis?

Auroras are notoriously difficult to predict with precision, but The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) has issued an alert for the next 48 hours from 19 January, honing in on 20 January during the night time hours. According to the ABC, they typically last from 20 minutes to an hour.

When to look up at the sky

The exact timing is dependant on weather conditions. The best time to see the geomagnetic activity was predicted as  65 minutes after sunset on 20 January 2026. Local sunset times for each location were as follows:

• Sydney: 8:07 pm
• Canberra: 8:18pm
• Melbourne: 8:41pm
• Adelaide: 8:30pm
• Perth: 7:24pm

Where to see it

According to the BoM, the strongest viewing conditions are in Australia’s southern states. The alert covers a broad region, but as always, the best chances for visibility is in the southern states. Those in Victoria, Tasmania and parts of South Australia will likely have the clearest shot – but strong solar activity can push the aurora further north than usual.

The current alert also includes parts of:

• New South Wales
• Australian Capital Territory
• Western Australia
• New Zealand

So even if you’re not in the far south of Australia, it’s worth keeping an eye on the sky over the next couple of nights.

Where is the best location to see the Aurora Australis?

To maximise your chances of catching the aurora, find a dark, open spot away from city lights. A designated dark sky reserve will always be the best spot to view the Aurora Australis, but there aren't many of these, so you may need to find another option.

If you're in Sydney, Palm Beach is actually Australia's first officially recognised Urban Night Sky Place. In other words, it's an excellent locale for stargazing. For those in Melbourne, some great stargazing spots are the Dandenong Ranges, specifically the Mt Burnett Observatory. Phillip Island or Grampians National Park are good too. For Tasmania, as this area is less densely populated, anywhere there's little light pollution will offer a good view. Bruny Island and Cradle Mountain National Park are great options if you want a truly immersive experience.

What actually causes an Aurora Australis?

The potential spectacle, which can also be called the Southern Lights, is the result of a solar flare and CME reaching Earth’s magnetic field. When charged particles from the sun collide with gases in the upper atmosphere, they create the shimmering greens, pinks, and purples of the Aurora Australis. The stronger the geomagnetic storm, the further north the lights can travel — meaning more people may get a glimpse of the show.

Feature image by Nico Smit via Unsplash.