Aurora destinations · Southern Hemisphere
Southern lights in Hobart
Tasmania, Australia · 42.88°S, 147.33°E
Hobart lies outside the auroral oval: aurora needs a geomagnetic storm, a few times a month around solar maximum (magnetic latitude 54°). Light pollution: there is some town glow. In town you need about Kp 5.3; at a dark site nearby, Kp 3.7.
Open the live forecast for Hobart
At a glance
- Good odds: from Kp 3.7 at a dark site, Kp 5.3 in town
- Best months: September, March and April
- Best weeks in the coming year: 24 Feb – 16 Mar · 24 Mar – 13 Apr · 1 Sept – 5 Oct
- Dark enough for aurora all year
Month by month
A typical night: real darkness and moon, average aurora activity (Kp 2014–2025) and satellite cloud cover (NASA, 2001–2025). Long-range odds, not a forecast.
| Month | Typical night | Clear sky | Dark hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 3% | 39% | 7 h |
| February | 3% | 38% | 9 h |
| March | 3% | 39% | 10 h |
| April | 3% | 38% | 12 h |
| May | 3% | 36% | 13 h |
| June | 3% | 40% | 13 h |
| July | 3% | 38% | 13 h |
| August | 3% | 38% | 12 h |
| September | 3% | 38% | 11 h |
| October | 3% | 37% | 9 h |
| November | 2% | 33% | 8 h |
| December | 3% | 35% | 7 h |
Tips for Hobart
- Clouds decide most nights: check the hour-by-hour forecast, and the “Clearer skies nearby” card for a spot within a drive.
- Aurora is usually best between about 22:00 and 02:00 local time; give your eyes 15 minutes in the dark.
- Get away from the town lights: even 10–20 km makes a difference.