(Wilsons Bay)

 

On Saturday the 11th of May, Queenstown and parts of the South Island experienced a strong solar storm which created a breathtaking aurora across our skies. This was definitely an unforgettable event for locals and tourists visiting the Queenstown Lakes District.

 

One of my bucket list things to see was either the Northern Lights or the Southern Lights. Tim and I travelled to Tromso, Norway, in December 2016 to see the Northern Lights. Tromso, Norway is just below the Arctic Circle. Unfortunately over the four days, it rained. 

 

Last year in Queenstown we had a few nights where the KP index was ideal to see an Aurora but unfortunately, I was away overseas.

 

On Saturday at 6.30 pm, Tim and I heard from a neighbor that there was a solar storm brewing in the lower South Island. 

 

Although the aurora was not visible with the naked eye at Arthurs Point, it was visible on my smartphone with the shutter speed adjusted.

 

(Arthurs Point 7pm)

 

 

"Auroras are caused by material ejected from the sun at just the right angle that it enters Earth's atmosphere, where it interacts with particles at the Earth's geomagnetic poles "causing a glow" which is known as the Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis at the top of the Northern Hemisphere, and the Southern Lights or Aurora Australis, at the south of the Southern Hemisphere" (Otago Daily Times, 2024).

 

When predicting how likely it is to see an Aurora, it's a great idea to look at the KP index. The Kp index is a parameter that ranges from 0 to 9 and indicates the level of geomagnetic activity, which directly correlates with an aurora. 

 

(Arthurs Point at 9 pm)

 

Next time the KP index is high and it's a fine night (look after 8 pm) here are some tips when setting up your camera/phone. There is also a dedicated Aurora Facebook page for Queenstown if you would love to see the recent photos in and around Queenstown.