Same Physics, Two Hemispheres
Aurora borealis (northern lights) and aurora australis (southern lights) are the same phenomenon in the Northern and Southern hemispheres. Charged particles from the solar wind or CMEs enter along magnetic field lines toward the magnetic poles—north and south. So when there is strong geomagnetic activity (high Kp), aurora can appear in both hemispheres, roughly mirroring each other in latitude (e.g. northern Scandinavia and southern Australia).
Where to See Them
Borealis: Best at high northern latitudes (e.g. Alaska, Canada, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland). At Kp 5+, visible farther south (e.g. northern US, UK, central Europe). Australis: Best at high southern latitudes (e.g. Tasmania, New Zealand, southern Australia, Antarctica). Dark, clear skies and minimal light pollution improve the view. Cosmic Radar shows the daily Kp and aurora outlook so you can see when conditions are favorable in either hemisphere.
Sources and further reading
- NOAA – Aurora – Aurora forecast and Kp
- AuroraWatch UK – Aurora activity level
- ESA Space Weather – European aurora context