Aurora Australis Possible on Friday Night
The colourful aurora australis may become visible from southern parts of Australia on Friday night following a coronal mass ejection (CME) from the sun.
What is a Coronal Mass Ejection?
CMEs are eruptions of solar material and magnetic fields from the sun. When they reach Earth, they can trigger geomagnetic storms that sometimes produce auroras at high latitudes near the poles in both hemispheres.
About the Aurora Displays
These auroral displays appear as glowing colours in the night sky, creating spectacular natural light shows.
"A coronal mass ejection is expected to impact the Earth within the next 48 hours, possibly resulting in significant geomagnetic activity and visible auroras during local nighttime hours."
Recent Solar Activity
Two CMEs were detected on November 5, which led the Bureau of Meteorology’s Space Weather Service to issue an aurora watch on November 6.
Image Reference
Image: Aurora australis from Shoalhaven, NSW in June 2025. Source: @micksamsonphoto / Instagram
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Author's summary: The southern lights may be visible Friday night in southern Australia, due to a solar storm causing geomagnetic activity and potentially bright auroras.