New Zealand29 places
Southern Lights in Otago Region, New Zealand
In Otago Region the aurora is visible from about Kp 4.3, first near The Catlins (Owaka). The Catlins (Owaka) has the darkest skies among the larger places.
Weather in Otago Region
General forecast for The Catlins (Owaka), the main town in Otago Region. Tonight's cloud cover for every town is on its aurora page.
| Place | Kp needed | Kp for photos | Look towards | Light pollution | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Catlins (Owaka) | 4.3 | 2.7 | SSW | Pristine dark sky | – |
| Dunedin | 4.7 | 3 | SSW | Bright suburban sky | 132,800 |
| Mosgiel | 4.7 | 3 | SSW | Rural to suburban | 14,800 |
| Oamaru | 5 | 3.3 | SSW | Rural to suburban | 13,000 |
| Wānaka | 5.3 | 3.7 | SSW | Pristine dark sky | 13,200 |
| Queenstown | 5.3 | 3.7 | SSW | Suburban sky | 10,442 |
Best months in Otago Region
Share of nights 2005–2025 that were dark, active enough here and mostly clear.
May has been the best month (4% of nights), followed by April (3%).
All years Near solar maximum Near solar minimum
- Kp 0–2 Quiet Only under the auroral oval: northern Norway, Swedish and Finnish Lapland, Iceland, Alaska, northern Canada.
- Kp 3 Unsettled camera in The Catlins (Owaka) Bright in the Arctic; low on the horizon in central Scandinavia and southern Iceland.
- Kp 4 Active eye in The Catlins (Owaka) Overhead in the Arctic; low in the north from southern Norway, Sweden, Finland and northern Scotland.
- Kp 5 Minor storm (G1) Scotland, southern Scandinavia, the Baltic states, the northern US states and southern Canada.
- Kp 6 Moderate storm (G2) Northern England, Denmark, northern Germany and Poland, the US Midwest — often clearer in photos than to the eye.
- Kp 7 Strong storm (G3) Most of the UK, the Netherlands, Germany, Poland, Czechia; red glow in photos from France and the northern Alps.
- Kp 8 Severe storm (G4) Central Europe to the eye; red sky in photos from northern Italy, Spain, the Balkans and Turkey's Black Sea coast.
- Kp 9 Extreme storm (G5) Seen across Europe and the US; in photos as far south as the Mediterranean, Turkey and North Africa (May 2024).
The town pages in this region also cover 131 villages and districts nearby.
Smaller places
- AlexandraKp 5
- ArrowtownKp 5
- Arthurs PointKp 5
- BalcluthaKp 4.3
- BrightonKp 4.7
- CromwellKp 5
- East TaieriKp 4.7
- FairfieldKp 4.7
- FranktonKp 5.7
- Jack's PointKp 5
- Lake HaweaKp 5.3
- Macandrew BayKp 5.3
- MiltonKp 4.7
- MorningtonKp 4.7
- North East ValleyKp 4.7
- PalmerstonKp 5
- PapatowaiKp 4.3
- Port ChalmersKp 4.7
- PortobelloKp 4.7
- Saint ClairKp 4.7
- WaikouaitiKp 5
- WestonKp 5
- WingatuiKp 4.7