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Aurora tonight inChristchurch

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Southern lights guide

Seeing the southern lights from Christchurch

Christchurch sits at 46.7° magnetic latitude, well away from the auroral oval. Aurora reaches it during geomagnetic storms: about Kp 7.5 for a glow on the southern horizon, and Kp 9+ or more for a display overhead.

Kp needed
7.5
On the southern horizon. Overhead from about Kp 9+.
Look toward
SSW 192°
Facing south-southwest, toward the magnetic pole.
Best hours
10:15 PM–2:15 AM
Centered on magnetic midnight, 12:15 AM local time in June.
How often
A few times a year at most
Only strong storms push the oval this far. A rough guide.

Dark hours by month

Hours each night with the sun at least 12° below the horizon, on the 15th of each month.

January: 6.5 hours6JanFebruary: 8.0 hours8FebMarch: 9.5 hours10MarApril: 11.2 hours11AprMay: 12.2 hours12MayJune: 12.8 hours13JunJuly: 12.5 hours12JulAugust: 11.7 hours12AugSeptember: 10.2 hours10SepOctober: 8.7 hours9OctNovember: 7.0 hours7NovDecember: 6.0 hours6Dec

There is a dark sky every night of the year, so aurora season never closes in Christchurch. Geomagnetic activity also tends to run higher around the March and September equinoxes.

What each storm level means here

The higher the Kp index, the farther the oval spreads toward the equator.

  • Kp 9G5 extreme storm: aurora on the horizon from Christchurch
  • Kp 7G3 strong storm: aurora not in view from Christchurch
  • Kp 5G1 minor storm: aurora not in view from Christchurch
  • Kp 3Unsettled: aurora not in view from Christchurch
  • Kp 1Quiet: aurora not in view from Christchurch

Questions about the aurora in Christchurch

Can you see the southern lights in Christchurch?

Sometimes, during geomagnetic storms. It takes about Kp 7.5 to see aurora low on the southern horizon from Christchurch, and cameras often pick it up before your eyes do.

What Kp index do you need to see the aurora in Christchurch?

About Kp 7.5 for aurora on the southern horizon and about Kp 9+ for aurora overhead. These come from Christchurch's magnetic latitude of 46.7°.

Which direction should I look for the aurora in Christchurch?

Face south-southwest (192°), toward the magnetic pole. That is where the aurora rises first. In a strong storm it can spread across the whole sky.

What time of night is best for the aurora in Christchurch?

Activity often peaks around magnetic midnight, which falls near 12:15 AM local time in Christchurch in June. The two hours either side are the best window.

When is aurora season in Christchurch?

There is a dark sky every night of the year, so aurora season never closes in Christchurch. Geomagnetic activity also tends to run higher around the March and September equinoxes.