Southern Lights

[babs135]

When and where would be the best time to see the Lights please?

[Aus Traveller]

It is easier to see the Northern lights rather than the Southern lights. Fairbanks in Alaska is a good location.

 

Southern NZ is the best place to see the southern lights, but there are a lot of factors that determine whether or not they will be visible. The lights are more visible in a year of solar maximum, the sky has to be dark (summer in the northern hemisphere isn't good), and preferably when the moon isn't in the sky. The next factor is luck - luck in whether there happens to be solar activity and luck with cloud cover. 😁

[SinbadThePorter]

The best would be Antarctica in winter. 🙂

 

The aurora australis can sometimes be seen as far north as Hobart. In Australia the Cradle Mountain area has dark nights suitable for viewing.

 

Near Dunedin in NZ or the southern tip of South America would be better places for viewing, but it is not a predictable phenomenon.

[lyndarra]

22 minutes ago, Aus Traveller said:

It is easier to see the Northern lights rather than the Southern lights. Fairbanks in Alaska is a good location. The next factor is luck - luck in whether there happens to be solar activity and luck with cloud cover. 😁

So true. We were in Fairbanks on a night of Northern lights but could not see it due to cloud cover. May have second opportunity next June but don't like my chances as it is will be mid summer there. The last time was in August.

 

[babs135]

39 minutes ago, Aus Traveller said:

It is easier to see the Northern lights rather than the Southern lights. Fairbanks in Alaska is a good location.

We've just come off a cruise to northern Norway which sailed into the Arctic Circle and were extremely fortunate to see the Lights twice.  They truly are a magnificent sight but it did make me wonder whether we could hopefully catch sight of the southern ones.  Looks like there is little to no chance?

Would love to see some photos though.

[MMDown Under]

When we were in Tasmania one January, a photographer approached my daughter, with a camera, asking did you see the Northern Lights.  No, but he did!

  How to see the Southern Lights  Guide to chasing Auroras in Tasmania.

discovertasmania.com.au

[By The Bay]

Here is a interesting way of seeing the Aurora Australis, aka Southern Lights.

[MicCanberra]

Thet need certain weather conditions for the lights to appear, but south NZ or Tasmania get to see them most, apart from Antarctica of course

[buchhalm]

Just don't go to South Australia.

The lights (and power) tends to be out very often.

[Docker123]

At times the lights can be seen from the Victorian coast, but not usually in their full glory.

 

A number of websites track the likelihood and locations for best viewing.

 

This is a reputable site, and can link through to a 3 day tracker

https://cdn.softservenews.com/southern_lights.html