AURORA AUSTRALIS FAQs

I CAN’T SEE IT

The Aurora can be a bit tricky to see. The strength of the Aurora seen in Australia on May 11 was such that it was clearly visible with the naked eye, however you still needed to be away from light pollution from street lights etc.
Not all Aurora shows can be seen with the naked eye. However, using a digital camera to “bring out” the Aurora is recommended. Cameras, including phone cameras, can use long exposure times to capture the true colours of an Aurora. Generally, the Aurora will look like a light fog or mist on the horizon to the naked eye.

How do i photograph it?

These are my go to settings on my DSLR camera I used to capture the above image:
- TRIPOD MOUNTED - CAMERA POINTING SOUTH
- 2 Sec TIMER (to allow any movement to settle from pushing the shutter button).
- MANUAL MODE
- LENS MANUALLY FOCUSSED TO INFINITY
- ISO 400 (However up to ISO 1600 might be required if the Aurora isn’t as bright)
- APERTURE OF f2.8 - OR THE LOWEST APERTURE NUMBER YOUR LENS CAN GO TO.
- 15 SECONDS SHUTTER SPEED (again this will vary depending on stregth of the Aurora)

PHONE SETTINGS

- most phones will automatically adjust your exposure time in order to capture the aurora. However it is crucial that you keep the phone steady. A phone clamp mounted to a tripod can be really useful, or at worst leaning your phone against a rail or something solid.
- there are a plethora of “camera” apps you can use on your phone to change exposure values. If using an app, follow the above settings for a camera.

JOIN ONE OF OUR WORKSHOPS IF YOU WANT TO LEARN ALL THE RIGHT SETTINGS.
Entry Level if you are starting from scratch.
Landscapes and SeaScapes if you are ready for the next step.

when will it happen again?

The Aurora Australis, also known as the southern lights, is a rare and captivating natural phenomenon primarily seen in the low-latitude regions of the Southern Hemisphere. Unlike its counterpart, the aurora borealis, which graces the northern skies, the aurora australis occurs in the southern polar regions. Its rarity stems from a combination of factors. Firstly, it requires specific conditions, including a strong solar wind and geomagnetic storms, to interact with the Earth's magnetosphere. Secondly, the Southern Hemisphere has less landmass and fewer inhabited areas compared to the Northern Hemisphere, making sightings less frequent due to lower human population density. Moreover, the unpredictability of solar activity adds another layer of rarity, as intense solar flares and geomagnetic disturbances occur sporadically. Thus, witnessing the aurora australis is a remarkable event, celebrated for its beauty and the elusive nature that surrounds it.
So it’s a bit hit and miss when you will see it again.
However there are some great facebook and instagram pages that will alert you in the likelyhood of an Aurora. My go to is Aurora Hunters Australia.