AURORA AUSTRALIS may dance in the sky near Perth this weekend!!!

So excited to let you know about the potential for capturing the Aurora Australis this weekend. Things are looking good for Saturday night.
I am heading south to try and capture this natural phenomenon.

PLEASE NOTE: Although all predictions are looking very strong for Saturday 11^th May 2024, it is NOT guaranteed that we will be able to capture the Aurora with a camera OR if it will be viewable to the naked eye.
There is a chance that cloud cover may also impact viewing conditions.
A weak Aurora may not be seen by the human eye, but a strong Aurora may be seen and will usually appear as grey beams moving across the sky vertically. Coloured beams usually show up through a long exposure on a camera or Smartphone.

UPDATE 11/5/24 10am – Last night the AURORA was EPIC and you could see it with the human eye, colours and all, from light polluted earth all the way to the Pilbara. Tonight is still looking good too. No matter where you are after sunset tonight it would be worth a look outside. This is rare

TO CAPTURE THE AURORA

Location

To have the best chance of capturing the Aurora head to areas with minimal light pollution (where you can not see the lights from a city or town). Travelling east out of Perth and as far South as you are comfortable to will provide the best viewing opportunities. Ensure your view faces SOUTH without any obstructions.

Consider high vantage points like Mt Dale, but be prepared for potential crowding. Places close to Perth that have been widely advertised by media will have limited parking and lots of people. Last time I went to Mt Dale I had to walk 2-3kms from the car park as there were cars parked that far down the side of the road.

Mt Dale lookout (walk past the viewing platform at the car park, down the path to the south).
Some other suggestions are:
York, Beverly, Mandurah (away from the lights), Point Perron, Cape Leeuwin, Denmark, Albany and so many moreâ€¦..

Mobile reception may be limited or not accessible, as you travel away from Perth and towns. Please drive safe and be patient in car parks â€“ it may be busy.

FACE SOUTH

No matter where you go face SOUTH.

Google how to use the compass app on your phone and ensure that you are facing SOUTH. There is no point travelling out to a destination in the dark skies to be facing another direction and not seeing the Aurora.

Many times I have gone to dark sky destinations to see 80% of the people facing the ocean lookout which is West and they miss capturing the Aurora to the South.

TIME

The best time to view the Aurora is after the Moon sets (8pm on 11/5/24).

Arrive before sunset (17:30) so you can set up and check you are facing South.

Please remember this is a natural weather event and is extremely exciting/promising, there is a chance it may not occur â€“ so please be prepared (and prepare children) for that outcome too.

WHAT TO TAKE

Remember to pack the essentials like a fully charged smartphone, a camera with ample memory space/cards, spare batteries, a tripod, a red light torch for adjusting your eyes, sturdy shoes, warm clothing, water, snacks, insect repellant, and something comfortable to sit on.

You may need to hike to a viewpoint so keep what you are carrying as light as possible and be prepared to walk!

How to Capture with a SmartPhone

Familiarise yourself with your smartphones long exposure or night mode settings before heading out.

How to change your settings will vary between phone brands and models.Â It is best to Google how before you leave home.

Â·Â Â Â Â Â Set your camera to a 10 second exposure if possible.

Â·Â Â Â Â Â Use a tripod and ensure you are facing south.

Â·Â Â Â Â Â Use the self timer, voice activated settings or a trigger to stop camera shake.

How to Capture with a DSLR or Mirrorless Camera

oÂ Â Â Use a tripod.

oÂ Â Â Use a trigger or self-timer.

oÂ Â Â A wide angle lens (e.g. 24mm or 14mm) focused on infinity or manually focus the lens on something in the distance.

Remember it may get cold so check for dew/moisture in your lens.

oÂ Â Starting point for your settings:

Â·Â Â Â Â Â ISO 800 or higher (1600 â€“ 6400)
this depends on your camera’s capabilities and what is in your frame.

Â·Â Â Â Â Â Fast Aperture f/2.8 or lower if possible (f/1.2,f/1.4, f/1.8).

Â·Â Â Â Â Â Shutter speed 10 secs (the longer the shutter the less â€œbeamsâ€ you will see).

oÂ Â This is a starting point and will vary depending on your equipment, so experiment.

oÂ Â If you are more experienced, consider a timelapse.

Etiquette

Respect fellow photographers by avoiding shining torches in their eyes or cameras, keep noise levels down, and minimise light interference from car headlights or car interior lights.

Keep torches (preferably ones that shine a red light) pointed at YOUR FEET to see where you are going and turn them off whenever possible.

Be patient and courteous of seeking advice from others, there are plenty of friendly people willing to help you that chase AURORA Perth, but remember they are there to get their own images too.

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