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Aurora Australis Explained
The Aurora Australis occurs when the sun releases large bursts of solar wind and magnetic particles into space, also known as CME (coronal mass ejections). The solar winds carry these magnetic particles to earth where they interact with the earth’s magnetic field, colliding to produce energy releases in the form of Auroras. The Earth’s magnetic field is closest to its surface at the North and South Poles and Southern New Zealand Dark Sky areas provide an excellent location to view the Aurora. The closer you are to the Poles the greater the chance of viewing an active Aurora. When a large geomagnetic storm occurs (normally with a KP Index reading of 7 or greater) then the Aurora displays can be seen both in the South Island and at dark locations in the North Island New Zealand. Such was the case on 11 May 2024 when a KP Index reading of close to 9 existed for several hours and the Aurora was visible as far north as Auckland and beyond. |
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Shooting the Aurora
Full Frame cameras produce the best quality Aurora images, however, Smart phone sensitivity to shooting at night has improved dramatically and it's now easier than ever to capture the colours of the Aurora on cell phones such and the Samsung S24 Ultra when using a sturdy tripod. Strong Aurora displays are easily visible to the naked eye, particularly beams of moving light that travel across the sky. However, cell phone cameras and other cameras such and DSLR and Full Frame are needed to easily pick up the varied and brilliant coloured light displays. Samsung Pro provides good functionality to take images of the Aurora, Photos in this blog were captured using either a Sony A7CR Full Frame Camera or a Samsung S24 Ultra and post processed in Lightroom Classic. |
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Interested to take your own Aurora images?
Let's get you ready to chase the Aurora Australis - Here's what you need to be aware of...
Let's get you ready to chase the Aurora Australis - Here's what you need to be aware of...
A. Where/When to go and What time of year
Best Locations
In New Zealand you’ll be looking south and the further south your location the greater the chance of seeing the Aurora - so the southern coast of the South Island away from city light pollution provides ample opportunity as does Queenstown waterfront, Coronet Peak, Stewart Island, Nugget Point Lighthouse, Moke Lake, Butchers Dam, Alexandra and the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve in the Tekapo area – particularly Lake Ruataniwha for great reflections.
(https://www.darkskyproject.co.nz/our-team-and-story/dark-sky-reserve/)
Plus Banks Peninsula south facing and Lake Rotoiti in the Nelson Lakes.
And dependant on the strength of any geomagnetic storm the Aurora can be seen well north with popular North Island locations being Red Rocks Reserve on the Wellington south coast, Wairarapa dark Sky Reserve, Mount Taranaki, Central North Island mountains and Lake Tarawera, Bay of Plenty (the images on this page were all taken from here.) Remember, North Island locations require a strong display and a clear (preferably elevated) view south in a dark location that has little or non-existent light pollution.
Best Weather considerations and Best Time
Best time to view or photograph the southern lights is on a clear, calm dark night away from city light pollution when the moon is not bright - repeating I know, however, it’s so important. It needs to be a cloudless or at least nearly cloudless night as Auroras happen in the upper atmosphere so any cloud cover will potentially obscure any Aurora light display!
Strong displays of the Aurora in history have frequently occurred each side of the autumn and spring equinox (mid March and mid September). So this time of year should be on your list - but don’t discount the possibility of seeing the Aurora at any time of year as Sun activity can be very unpredictable.
The chances of seeing an Aurora increase when the Sun is going through a period of high activity such as is happening now through to approximately 2027. The sun works on an 11 year cycle with periods of high activity peaking during each solar maximum, with the current peak (or solar maximum) predicted to be during mid 2025.
Best Locations
In New Zealand you’ll be looking south and the further south your location the greater the chance of seeing the Aurora - so the southern coast of the South Island away from city light pollution provides ample opportunity as does Queenstown waterfront, Coronet Peak, Stewart Island, Nugget Point Lighthouse, Moke Lake, Butchers Dam, Alexandra and the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve in the Tekapo area – particularly Lake Ruataniwha for great reflections.
(https://www.darkskyproject.co.nz/our-team-and-story/dark-sky-reserve/)
Plus Banks Peninsula south facing and Lake Rotoiti in the Nelson Lakes.
And dependant on the strength of any geomagnetic storm the Aurora can be seen well north with popular North Island locations being Red Rocks Reserve on the Wellington south coast, Wairarapa dark Sky Reserve, Mount Taranaki, Central North Island mountains and Lake Tarawera, Bay of Plenty (the images on this page were all taken from here.) Remember, North Island locations require a strong display and a clear (preferably elevated) view south in a dark location that has little or non-existent light pollution.
Best Weather considerations and Best Time
Best time to view or photograph the southern lights is on a clear, calm dark night away from city light pollution when the moon is not bright - repeating I know, however, it’s so important. It needs to be a cloudless or at least nearly cloudless night as Auroras happen in the upper atmosphere so any cloud cover will potentially obscure any Aurora light display!
Strong displays of the Aurora in history have frequently occurred each side of the autumn and spring equinox (mid March and mid September). So this time of year should be on your list - but don’t discount the possibility of seeing the Aurora at any time of year as Sun activity can be very unpredictable.
The chances of seeing an Aurora increase when the Sun is going through a period of high activity such as is happening now through to approximately 2027. The sun works on an 11 year cycle with periods of high activity peaking during each solar maximum, with the current peak (or solar maximum) predicted to be during mid 2025.
For more interesting information on the solar cycle check out these links -
Aurora Forecast Apps – When will the Aurora be visible?
There are multiple factors at play affecting your chances of seeing the Aurora. To allow you to prepare it is critical to source information from a number of fantastic Aurora Apps - these will provide you with real time information about Solar Activity and the likelihood of an Aurora display in your location – make sure you have these Apps, check them regularly or have notifications switched on.
The 3 Best Aurora Apps
The KP index number is a useful number to predict Solar Activity. High readings (particularly above KP 7) can indicate an Aurora is imminent however the very best Aurora App is the Glendale App – it’s a must have!
There are multiple factors at play affecting your chances of seeing the Aurora. To allow you to prepare it is critical to source information from a number of fantastic Aurora Apps - these will provide you with real time information about Solar Activity and the likelihood of an Aurora display in your location – make sure you have these Apps, check them regularly or have notifications switched on.
The 3 Best Aurora Apps
The KP index number is a useful number to predict Solar Activity. High readings (particularly above KP 7) can indicate an Aurora is imminent however the very best Aurora App is the Glendale App – it’s a must have!
1. The Glendale App
This is a web based App that will work on either your phone or desktop and gives you real time information. Other Apps listed below work with a slight time delay. The Glendale App is stacked full of useful information and if you read the FAQ section it provides all the detail you will need to plan your Aurora viewing. The most important information is the Substorm graph- if this shows a large negative number it is a predictor that aurora activity is present or growing. The 3 phases are:
This screen shot from the Glendale App shows you what the readout looks like. In this instance, while still showing in expansion at -391 nT this was in fact the aftermath of a significant event that resulted in a maximum -1830 nT on Monday 12 August 2024 at a little after midday New Zealand time – it was no good for Aurora Australis as it was daytime, however it was great for night owls in the Northern Hemisphere with Aurora Borealis displays in multiple countries.
This is a web based App that will work on either your phone or desktop and gives you real time information. Other Apps listed below work with a slight time delay. The Glendale App is stacked full of useful information and if you read the FAQ section it provides all the detail you will need to plan your Aurora viewing. The most important information is the Substorm graph- if this shows a large negative number it is a predictor that aurora activity is present or growing. The 3 phases are:
- Growth - the substorm is beginning to build.
- Expansion - solar energy is being released. The Aurora will be at its strongest during this phase !
- Recovery – the strength of the solar energy event is reducing.
This screen shot from the Glendale App shows you what the readout looks like. In this instance, while still showing in expansion at -391 nT this was in fact the aftermath of a significant event that resulted in a maximum -1830 nT on Monday 12 August 2024 at a little after midday New Zealand time – it was no good for Aurora Australis as it was daytime, however it was great for night owls in the Northern Hemisphere with Aurora Borealis displays in multiple countries.
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Take the nT information together with information from the IMF (at Earth) Table - this table shows Now and Next readings and will provide you high confidence that an Aurora may be visible if the Next -ve Percentage reading is 100% – when this happens the numbers will be accentuated in red or purple - this is an indication about the chance of Aurora Displays being imminent and you should get out there and prepare to start shooting that camera. |
Sign up to the Telegram App and subscribe to the Aurora Alerts UK channel to enable this channel to send you notifications when the Glendale App readings hit a strong Aurora Alert. When this happens the Telegram notification alerts will grow fairly fast through Yellow, to Orange to Red, to Major Alert and Severe Alert – don’t worry about the Yellow Alerts but when the alerts progress to Red, Major, and Severe you should be camera ready because the chances are you’ll be in for an Aurora display treat!!
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Telegram App
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Aurora Alerts UK
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2. SpaceWeather Live App
A worthwhile App to have that provides notifications and information about current status of Aurora and prediction of incoming activity from Solar Storms. Both App and desktop versions are available providing detailed information over a number of useful information parameters including Hemispheric Power. Hemispheric Power data is a measure of how much energy from the Sun hits the Earth's upper atmosphere and the higher this power reading the better the chance of seeing an amazing aurora display. Select the drop down menu on the App and you will see Aurora activity Information update pages as well as access to explanatory information links.
This screen shot of the Desktop version gives you a glimpse of what SpaceWeather Live provides including an up to date display of the Aurora bands circling the globe coloured green to yellow to red – When you see a red display get that camera ready!
A worthwhile App to have that provides notifications and information about current status of Aurora and prediction of incoming activity from Solar Storms. Both App and desktop versions are available providing detailed information over a number of useful information parameters including Hemispheric Power. Hemispheric Power data is a measure of how much energy from the Sun hits the Earth's upper atmosphere and the higher this power reading the better the chance of seeing an amazing aurora display. Select the drop down menu on the App and you will see Aurora activity Information update pages as well as access to explanatory information links.
This screen shot of the Desktop version gives you a glimpse of what SpaceWeather Live provides including an up to date display of the Aurora bands circling the globe coloured green to yellow to red – When you see a red display get that camera ready!
3. Aurora Alerts – Northern Light App
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A quick and easy App to use where you can select your locations and store them for quick selection at any time. Given the Apps above should provide you with all the information needed you probably will only use this as back up confirmation for the current status of the Aurora – however, you’ll find this App very clear, easy to use with the added bonus of a global Aurora bands display map when you click on the Graph button at the bottom of your cell phone screen. |
Aurora Australis NZ Facebook Group
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Les Ladbrook from Invercargill and Geoff Cloake are key contacts for this group. They are members of a group of eight site administrators that together provide a vast wealth of knowledge and experience about the Aurora Australis. The site posts current shots from members plus an array of useful and up to date information about the current status of the Aurora Australis. You’ll find that this group enhances your understanding of Aurora and provides up to date shots of what’s going on with Aurora in New Zealand.
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Aurora Australis Information source
Thirsty for more information? - then refer to Arun Chandran publications. Arun is a coordinator from the Australian Aurora Australis Facebook group - Arun has been chasing Aurora for many years and is an endless source of valuable information. He has produced helpful information books of which 'Chasing Aurora Australis 2024' is highly recommended.
Recommended Full Frame Camera settings to capture the Aurora Australis
You've found a perfect location for capturing the Aurora - how then to have that camera ready?
Milky Way and Aurora shooting are different - unlike the Milky Way the Aurora is a moving and dynamic beast with colours and light pillars constantly changing so shutter speed needs to be adjusted accordingly
Here's my recommendations to get you prepared:
Milky Way and Aurora shooting are different - unlike the Milky Way the Aurora is a moving and dynamic beast with colours and light pillars constantly changing so shutter speed needs to be adjusted accordingly
Here's my recommendations to get you prepared:
- Camera Mode: Manual with Manual Focus - focus on a bright star to take an Aurora image and check for correct focus.
- Lens: Most likely wide-angle lens 12-14mm or up to 24mm full frame.
- Aperture: f1.4-f4 (wider the better for gathering light
- Shutter Speed: 5-15 seconds depending on the strength of light - even faster speeds of 1-4 seconds should be used when Aurora light is strong - if your shutter speed in too long the the light pillars will be blurred and lack structure
- Start with shutter speed of 5-8 seconds and adjust depending on the result of the image captured - remember longer exposures will end up with star trailing of stars above and around the Aurora - know your camera and the shutter speed limits with respect to star trailing
- ISO: Start 1600-3200 and adjust - bright displays can be successfully shot at ISO 1000 and conversely less intense Aurora displays may need ISO 4000-6400.
- White Balance: not critical as you can adjust in post processing however set to 3500-4000 for natural Aurora greens and purples
- Shoot in RAW and with a tripod - image stabilization turned off
- Shutter speed: 5–15 seconds (shorter if aurora is very bright and moving fast)
- ISO: 800–3200 (higher if the aurora is faint, but beware of noise)
- Focus: Set to infinity (or manually focus on a bright star if your phone allows)
- White balance: Around 3500K (to keep the greens natural)
C. Be Prepared and Ready to Roll !
Keep those notifications on and be ready to move if the Aurora builds. Planning and research should provide predicted Aurora information however be prepared to move when Aurora activity builds and you will give yourself the best chance of catching and photographing the incredible Aurora Australis display!
Finally don’t forget to just soak it up – if you are seeing the Aurora in full display you’ll need to allow yourself a moment to just wonder at the awe-inspiring view you are taking in – ENJOY!
Keep those notifications on and be ready to move if the Aurora builds. Planning and research should provide predicted Aurora information however be prepared to move when Aurora activity builds and you will give yourself the best chance of catching and photographing the incredible Aurora Australis display!
Finally don’t forget to just soak it up – if you are seeing the Aurora in full display you’ll need to allow yourself a moment to just wonder at the awe-inspiring view you are taking in – ENJOY!
Lake Tarawera Jetty Aurora (Cell Phone image).
Lake Tarawera Aurora (Cell Phone image).
Thanks so much for taking time to read my How to Photograph the Aurora Australis New Zealand. I hope this inspires you, assists with your planning to capture the Aurora, and results in some amazing Aurora Australis Photography.
If you are interested in prints of any of the Landscape Photography images on my site, please browse my Photography Gallery, and check the images in my Online Print Store, or get in touch to purchase images from this post.
If you are interested in prints of any of the Landscape Photography images on my site, please browse my Photography Gallery, and check the images in my Online Print Store, or get in touch to purchase images from this post.
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