Residents of the Australian capital are being told to keep their eyes on the southern horizon tonight, with a significant chance of witnessing the mesmerising Aurora Australis.
Geomagnetic Storm Sparks Aurora Alert
The opportunity for this celestial light show comes courtesy of a severe geomagnetic storm currently moving across southeast Australia. The Australia Space Weather Forecasting Centre issued a formal aurora alert on the morning of Tuesday, January 20, 2026.
The centre indicated that the aurora, also known as the southern lights, may be visible during local night time hours from regions as far north as the middle latitudes, which geographically align with areas around Tasmania.
"If You See Red, You Go Outside"
Dr Brad Tucker, an astrophysicist based at Mount Stromlo with the Australian National University, provided expert insight into the event. He explained that the visibility in Canberra hinges on the storm maintaining its current intensity into the evening.
"If it stays the same strength as of right now... we would see it as bright as what we saw back in November in Canberra," Dr Tucker said. He cautioned, however, that the duration of such storms is unpredictable, typically lasting one to two hours, making an eight-hour display a "hard ask."
Dr Tucker advises the public to monitor the Kp index, a scale used to measure geomagnetic activity. "If you see red and it says major storm, you go outside," he stated emphatically.
Tips for the Best Viewing Experience
For Canberrans hoping to catch a glimpse, location and preparation are key. Dr Tucker recommends seeking out dark skies away from the city's light pollution.
"Because it's going to be in the southern skies, you want to go south of the city lights... get to a dark spot, so it could be like a nature strip or a nearby oval somewhere with less immediate lights," he suggested.
Interestingly, he notes that while the human eye may perceive the aurora, smartphone cameras often capture the phenomenon more vividly due to their light sensitivity. "Your phone camera... will definitely pick it up in a lot more of those vivid colors," Dr Tucker added.
The event serves as a reminder of the dynamic space weather that interacts with Earth's atmosphere, offering a rare and beautiful spectacle for those in southern parts of the country.
