City
Seeing the southern lights from Queenstown
Queenstown sits at 48.8° magnetic latitude, well away from the auroral oval. Aurora reaches it during geomagnetic storms: about Kp 6.5 for a glow on the southern horizon, and Kp 8.7 or more for a display overhead.
Dark hours by month
Hours each night with the sun at least 12° below the horizon, on the 15th of each month.
There is a dark sky every night of the year, so aurora season never closes in Queenstown. 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 overhead from Queenstown
- Kp 7G3 strong storm: aurora on the horizon from Queenstown
- Kp 5G1 minor storm: aurora not in view from Queenstown
- Kp 3Unsettled: aurora not in view from Queenstown
- Kp 1Quiet: aurora not in view from Queenstown
Questions about the aurora in Queenstown
Can you see the southern lights in Queenstown?
Sometimes, during geomagnetic storms. It takes about Kp 6.5 to see aurora low on the southern horizon from Queenstown, and cameras often pick it up before your eyes do.
What Kp index do you need to see the aurora in Queenstown?
About Kp 6.5 for aurora on the southern horizon and about Kp 8.7 for aurora overhead. These come from Queenstown's magnetic latitude of 48.8°.
Which direction should I look for the aurora in Queenstown?
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 Queenstown?
Activity often peaks around magnetic midnight, which falls near 12:30 AM local time in Queenstown in June. The two hours either side are the best window.
When is aurora season in Queenstown?
There is a dark sky every night of the year, so aurora season never closes in Queenstown. Geomagnetic activity also tends to run higher around the March and September equinoxes.