Last updated: October 12, 2024

There’s been more auroras recently as we’re either in or approaching the peak of the solar cycle. I caught my first aurora during the G5 geomagnetic storm back in May this year and I caught a glimpse of another one from my backyard today.

Here’s some resources that I’ve found useful as someone based in inner Victoria:

Aurora forecasts and updates

• Auroral activity | SpaceWeatherLive.com - Aurora-related space weather events and metrics
• NOAA / NWS Space Weather Prediction Center - Current space weather conditions and alerts
  • Aurora dashboard - Aurora oval, past Kp readings and 3-day forecast of Kp index
  • Real Time Solar Wind
• Aurora dashboard | Australian Space Weather Forecasting Centre (ASWFC / BOM) - Current aurora conditions and aurora advisories for Australia
• Aurora Australis Forecast - Forecast for Kp index in next few minutes (lead time up to 15 minutes)
• Aurorasaurus - Aurora sighting reports
• Glendale App - Progressive web app with aurora alerts (Registration required maybe?)
• Real-time AE Index Daily Plot - Auroral electrojet index
• CME Scoreboard - CME arrival time predictions

Social media groups and profiles

• Southern Hemisphere Aurora Group | Facebook - Aurora forecasts and sightings from southern hemisphere
• Southern Hemisphere Aurora Group: Your Aurora Australis Resource for Strength Estimation (SHAG: UPYAARSE) | Facebook - Aurora forecasts for southern hemisphere
• /r/melbourne - Occasionally has aurora alerts and sightings
• Vincent Ledvina - ‘The Aurora Guy’ | Facebook
• NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center | Twitter

Other useful resources

• Satellite Viewer | BOM - Current cloud cover
• Melbourne forecast | Windy - Current and predicted cloud cover
• Light pollution map
• Queenstown, New Zealand Roundshot - Shots of sky from New Zealand. Updated every 20 minutes
• Mt Buller, Victoria, Australia Roundshot - Shots of sky from Mt Buller, Victoria. Updated every 20 minutes
• Tamleugh Park | YouTube - Occasionally has livestreams of sky from north-east Victoria, Australia

Tips

• Megathread from @Vincent_Ledvina
• BOM Weather Guide: Catching the Aurora
• Where to see the Aurora Australis in Melbourne | Time Out
• theauroraguy.com - Blog posts and guides for chasing auroras
  • How to predict the aurora - when will it be out?
  • Where and when can YOU see the aurora?

That’s all for today. Stay safe and happy hunting!