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🌌 Aurora Watch: Round 2 🌌

Last night was an absolute cracker for aurora viewing and photography, and the good news is the Sun isn’t done with us yet.

While tonight’s geomagnetic storm isn’t quite the showstopper we saw last night, the indicators are still saying Earth is very much under attack. The Floyd Mayweather style jabs and Mike Tyson uppercuts we copped last night have eased back a little. Think more Zab Judah jabs after Kostya Tszyu was finished with him. The solar energy is still streaming in, just not at the same intensity as last night.

That means there is still a chance of seeing the Aurora Australis again tonight.

Think of it like the 2010 Collingwood vs St Kilda Grand Final. Last night was the drawn Grand Final, unforgettable stuff. Tonight could be the replay, still a very solid encore performance. And at least this time, we don’t have to watch Collingwood dismantle St Kilda to win a flag.

If conditions play nicely, keep an eye on the southern sky from around 8:30 pm onwards, ideally from a good dark spot away from city lights. Good inland options include rest stops along Great Eastern Highway, Brookton Highway, or Albany Highway.

It’s worth keeping an eye on the Glendale Aurora app
https://loom.ly/DWttB_8

and the Aurora Australis Western Australia Facebook Group
https://loom.ly/ogbS5hc

As always, auroras work in bursts, so patience is key and snacks are strongly recommended.

Will the Sun deliver a sequel? We’re cautiously optimistic and fully prepared to be hurt again.

Clear skies, good luck, and fingers crossed for Round 2 🌠

#Perth #WA #perthnews #wanews #communitynews #westernaustralia #astronomy #astronomynews #space #spacenews #auroraaustralis #aurora #southernlights #solarstorm #stargazing #astrophotography #photography #nightphotography #astrotourismwa #astrotourism #perthlife #perthgram #seeperth #ThisisWA #wanderoutyonder #justanotherdayinwa #WAtheDreamState #experiencewa #perthobservatory #perthobs

Here is the time-lapse of the Aurora Australis captured by our own Matt Woods. You can see the ethereal auroral sheets dancing across the southern night sky from around 8:30 pm through to about 9:45 pm, a beautiful reminder of just how alive the sky can be when the Sun decides to put on a show.

#Perth #WA #perthnews #wanews #communitynews #westernaustralia #astronomy #astronomynews #space #spacenews #auroraaustralis #aurora #southernlights #solarstorm #stargazing #astrophotography #photography #nightphotography #astrotourismwa #astrotourism #perthlife #perthgram #seeperth #ThisisWA #wanderoutyonder #justanotherdayinwa #WAtheDreamState #experiencewa #perthobservatory #perthobs

The Perth @scorchersbbl weren’t the only ones putting on a show last night 🔥🌌

What a night the Aurora Australis delivered. The sky absolutely came to play, treating us to stunning, ethereal auroral sheets from around 8:30 pm through to about 9:45 pm, complete with a bonus meteor streaking through the scene, because clearly the universe was feeling generous.

Just when we thought it might be done, the aurora returned for an encore around 10:50 pm, glowing away before we finally packed up and left the Observatory, tired, happy, and slightly ruined for normal nights under the stars.

Meanwhile, the Sun is still throwing punches. Solar jabs and uppercuts from this ongoing storm are continuing to light up skies across Europe and North America right now. If that energy keeps flowing, there is a very real chance it could roll into our skies again tonight.

In short, the Sun is still in a mood, and we are absolutely here for it. Fingers crossed for round two 🌠

#Perth #WA #perthnews #wanews #communitynews #westernaustralia #astronomy #astronomynews #space #spacenews #auroraaustralis #aurora #southernlights #solarstorm #stargazing #astrophotography #photography #nightphotography #astrotourismwa #astrotourism #perthlife #perthgram #seeperth #ThisisWA #wanderoutyonder #justanotherdayinwa #WAtheDreamState #experiencewa #perthobservatory #perthobs

We have Aurora!!!!!!

In dark locations in the Perth Hills at least it is just visible to the naked eye, but it's definitely there in photos

#Perth #WA #perthnews #wanews #communitynews westernaustralia astronomy astronomynews space spacenews auroraaustralis aurora southernlights solarstorm stargazing astrophotography photography nightphotography astrotourismwa astrotourism perthlife perthgram seeperth ThisisWA wanderoutyonder justanotherdayinwa WAtheDreamState experiencewa perthobservatory perthobs

🚨 Aurora Alert 🚨

On January 18th, the Sun decided subtlety was overrated and fired off a long-duration X2 solar flare along with a full halo Coronal Mass Ejection aimed squarely at Earth. The result was a severe S4 proton radiation storm peaking at around 36,000 pfu, the strongest of this century and one of the biggest we have ever measured with modern instruments.

That solar uppercut started arriving late last night and has continued through today. With the strength of the storm, the timing, and conditions lining up surprisingly well, there is a genuine chance the Aurora Australis could be visible much further north than usual tonight, potentially as far north as Perth, Sydney, and even Auckland latitudes. In short, the Sun pressed the “chaos” button and forgot to turn it off.

🌌 WHEN AND WHERE TO LOOK

Auroras love darkness, patience, and clear skies. They do not love streetlights, car headlights, or that one neighbour who insists on using a head torch at full brightness.

Find a dark location with a clear view to the south. Be set up before sunset so you are not fumbling with tripods in the dark while the aurora quietly judges you.

Auroras often arrive in bursts rather than staying on constantly. The atmosphere needs time to charge up, then releases those eerie, glowing sheets like it is showing off.

Start looking from around 8:30 pm, scanning from south east through to south west.

🚗📸 TOP SPOTS IN WA

If you can, escape Perth’s light dome. City glow and auroras are not friends.

Good inland options include rest stops along Great Eastern Highway, Brookton Highway, or Albany Highway.

Coastal favourites like Esperance, Albany, Denmark, Ferguson Valley, and Cape Leeuwin are prime aurora real estate when conditions behave themselves.

#Perth #WA #perthnews #wanews #communitynews #westernaustralia #astronomy #astronomynews #space #spacenews #auroraaustralis #aurora #southernlights #solarstorm #stargazing #astrophotography #photography #nightphotography #astrotourismwa #astrotourism #perthlife #perthgram #seeperth #ThisisWA #wanderoutyonder #justanotherdayinwa #WAtheDreamState #experiencewa #perthobservatory #perthobs

The Universe has blinked… and three shiny spots have magically opened up on our Night Sky Tour this Saturday 🌌

If you’ve ever said, “One day I’ll go stargazing…” this is the cosmos giving you a gentle but slightly dramatic nudge. Telescopes, planets, stars, and some absolutely top-tier night sky vibes await.

Blink, and they’ll be gone faster than a shooting star 💫

👉 Book here before the Universe changes its mind: https://loom.ly/ku4dGcw

#Perth #WA #perthnews #wanews #communitynews #westernaustralia #perthevents #perthlife #perthtodo #ThisisWA #wanderoutyonder #justanotherdayinwa #experienceperthhills #experienceperth #experiencewa #stargazing #telescopes #WhatsOnPerth #NightSkyTour #VisitPerth #WAtourism #AstroTourism #AstroTourismWA #AstronomyLovers #SeeTheStars #SpaceNerds #LastSpots #nightsky #perthobservatory #perthobs

🌙✨ Moon Occults Antares | Early Morning Skywatching – 15 January 2026 ✨🌙

Early risers are in for a treat tomorrow (Thursday) morning, 15 January 2026, when the Moon passes directly in front of Antares, one of the brightest and most famous stars in the night sky.

From Western Australia and across much of Australia, you’ll be able to watch a lunar occultation, where Antares briefly disappears behind the Moon before reappearing on the other side.

🕒 Key times (AWST):

• Occultation begins: 2:12 am
• Occultation ends: 3:08 am

At the time, the Moon will be just 14.4% illuminated, making the event easier to spot against the dark sky. You can see it with the naked eye, though binoculars or a small telescope will make it even more spectacular.

Antares is the brilliant red heart of the constellation Scorpius, and its name literally means “rival of Mars” thanks to its striking reddish colour and similar brightness.

A few fascinating facts about this stellar giant:

🔴 Antares is a red supergiant, around 700 times larger than our Sun
🔥 Its surface temperature is about 3,500 K, cooler than the Sun but glowing red due to its enormous size
✨ It shines with up to 10,000 times the Sun’s luminosity
🌌 Located about 550 light-years away, it is the 15th brightest star in the night sky
💥 One day, Antares will likely explode as a supernova, though not anytime soon on human timescales

If Antares replaced our Sun, it would extend beyond the orbit of Mars, with its outer atmosphere stretching even further.

🌌 How to find it

Look low to the eastern sky in the early morning hours, in the distinctive hook shape of Scorpius. During the occultation, the Moon itself makes Antares easy to find, just watch where the star suddenly vanishes and later reappears.

Clear skies, warm clothes, and a hot cuppa recommended ☕

#Perth #WA #Australia #perthnews #wanews #communitynews #space #spacenews #astronomy #astronomynews #westernaustralia #perthlife #perthgram #perthhappenings #astrophotography #lunarphotography #moonphotography #astronomicalevent #CelestialEvent #MoonOccultation #Antares #MoonWatching #NightSky #moon #fullmoon #luna #moonlovers #stargazing #perthobservatory #perthobs

🌍✨ DEFENDING EARTH: A Night of Space, Science, and Big Questions! ✨🌍

Looking for a summer night out that’s exciting, educational, and perfect for the whole family? Join us under the stars for a special evening with Associate Professor David Coward, one of Australia’s leading experts in asteroid tracking and planetary defence!

👉 Book your tickets now: https://loom.ly/vfVMHpM

Saturday, 31 January – Perth Observatory
⏰ 8 pm start, doors open 5 pm
🎟 $25 per Adult | $15 per Concession & Child (5–17)

Kids and adults alike will love learning about:

☄️ How we find dangerous asteroids before they find us
🌠 What happened during the Chelyabinsk fireball
🔭 How telescopes in WA help protect Earth
🚀 The incredible discoveries made right here in Australia

Professor Coward has worked with NASA, tracked colliding neutron stars, hunted space debris, and even contributed to the first detection of gravitational waves. He’s the perfect guide through the exciting world of planetary protection!

🌿 Bring a blanket, warm clothes and enjoy the talk on our back lawn (weather permitting).
It’s a great way to spark curiosity, encourage young astronomers, and enjoy a relaxing night in the Perth Hills.

✨ Whether you’re a family of stargazers, a space enthusiast, or just love learning something new, this is a night you won’t want to miss.

Book your tickets now and spend the evening exploring the science that keeps our planet safe!

#Perth #WA #westernaustralia #perthnews #wanews #communitynews #perthevents #perthlife #perthtodo #PerthHappenings #PerthWeekend #ThisisWA #FamilyFriendly #PerthEvents #AstronomyForKids #PlanetaryDefence #experienceperthhills #experienceperth #experiencewa #ThingsToDoInPerth #SeePerth #VisitWA #SummerEventsWA #FamilyFriendlyWA #WAEvents #perthhills #perthentertainment #perthobservatory #perthobs

Our January Newsletter is out now! Kick off the n

Looking for something a little more out of this wo

Tonight, Perth gets a cracking celestial show with January’s Full Moon, better known as the Wolf Moon, and also, it’s also a Supermoon.

⏰ When to look from Perth

The Moon will rise in the east shortly after sunset, at 7.41 pm AWST.
It’ll be at its most eye-catching as it lifts above the horizon, when it looks huge, golden, and just a little bit suspiciously close.

🐺 Why is it called the Wolf Moon?

The name comes from Indigenous North American and early European traditions. January was often the coldest and harshest month of the year in the northern hemisphere, when food was scarce, and wolves were more likely to be heard howling near villages.

🌕 Other names for January’s Full Moon

Depending on the culture and region, January’s Full Moon has also been called:
• Ice Moon
• Cold Moon
• Frost Moon
• Old Moon
• Moon After Yule

🌍 What makes it a Supermoon?

A Supermoon happens when a Full Moon occurs close to perigee, the point where the Moon is closest to Earth in its slightly squashed orbit. Tonight, it’ll be just 363,086 km away.

That means:
• Around 7 percent larger than an average Full Moon
• Around 15 percent brighter

The technical term for a Supermoon is a Perigee Syzygy Moon. That’s when the Moon is either full or new, aligns with the Earth and Sun (syzygy), and is also at its closest point to Earth (perigee). The term Supermoon was coined by American astrologer Richard Nolle in a 1979 issue of Dell Horoscope magazine.

👀 How to enjoy it

• Look east just after sunset
• Find a clear view of the horizon
• Bonus points if you catch it rising through trees or buildings
• Optional howling is socially acceptable

Clear skies permitting, it’s a cracking way to start the year and a great reminder to look up.

#Perth #WA #perthnews #wanews #communitynews #space #spacenews #astronomy #astronomynews #westernaustralia #perthlife #perthgram #perthhappenings #astrophotography #lunarphotography #moonphotography #astronomicalevent #wolfmoon #wolfmoon2026 #supermoon #supermoon2026 #JanuarySuperMoon #moon #fullmoon #luna #moonlovers #astrophoto #stargazing #perthobservatory #perthobs

The International Space Station (@iss) will fly over extremely bright on Monday, December 29th at 7:47 pm (Mag -3.6).

To use the attached maps, face south and hold the map above your head, and you'll see the path of the flyover.

#spotthestation #internationalspacestation #spacestation #iss #Perth #WA #perthnews #wanews #communitynews #westernaustralia #perthnow #perthgram #perthevents #perthlife #perthtodo #perthhappenings #ThisisWA #wanderoutyonder #perthhills #perthisok #perthlife #experienceperthhills #experienceperth #perthentertainment #seeperth #whatsoninperth #stargazing #nightsky #perthobservatory #perthobs

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