The stars are aligning, literally, for something incredible to happen in South Africa. A powerful solar flare has created the perfect conditions for the Southern Lights to appear in our skies and people across the country are already capturing the glow.
South Africa (02 June 2025) – Something extraordinary is lighting up South Africa this week… quite literally.
Thanks to an incredibly rare space weather event, South Africans might just get a front-row seat to the Aurora Australis, also known as the Southern Lights, a breathtaking phenomenon usually reserved for the farthest southern parts of the planet. But this time, if conditions hold, that majestic wave of colour may be dancing across our night skies.
The popular Facebook page We Are South Africans has been buzzing with updates and hopeful excitement, sharing viewing guides and helpful tips. Encouraging all of us to look up and be present.
“Tonight, and tomorrow night, powerful geomagnetic storms will set the skies ablaze with hues of red, pink, and green as the Aurora Australis graces our skies once more, just like in May and October last year,” they posted. “Gather your loved ones, cherish the moment, and remember: if the lights don’t appear, the time spent together, marvelling at our breathtaking world, is its own kind of magic.”
But what is the Aurora Australis?
Well, it’s a natural light display caused by charged particles from the Sun colliding with Earth’s magnetic field. When a solar flare (in this case, a powerful M8.2-class flare) sends a massive plasma cloud hurtling toward us at over 1000km/s, it disturbs our magnetic field… and that’s when the magic happens. This type of geomagnetic storm, rated G4 to G5 by space weather agencies, is very rare and powerful.
Normally, these auroras are only visible in Antarctica or the southern tips of New Zealand or Chile but right now, there’s a real chance of spotting it from the Southern and Eastern Coasts of South Africa… and possibly even deeper inland.
“Make an effort to enjoy the spectacle while it lasts,” We Are South Africans shared. “There’s no guarantee this will happen again, and no way it can be predicted!”
From Durban to Cape Town, and even Limpopo depending on cloud cover and storm intensity, South Africans are being encouraged to find dark, open spaces away from city lights and face the southern sky.
And here’s the best part, even if you don’t see the lights with your naked eye, your camera might.
Use your phone or DSLR with the right settings (ISO 1600–3200, aperture f/2.8, shutter speed 10–30 seconds) and point it south-east. Many colours, pink, red, green, even blue, might appear only in long exposures. Just remember to switch off your outdoor lights, let your eyes adjust to the dark and look for the Southern Cross to guide you.
We Are South Africans is actively encouraging followers to send in their snaps, videos and updates. Their page is filled with real-time updates and images captured by fellow sky-watchers from across the country. This community-led celebration of science, nature and awe is creating a shared experience of joy and connection, something many of us need right now.
Whether or not you catch a glimpse of this rare celestial show, take a moment to breathe it all in. We’re part of something much bigger, and sometimes, the universe gives us a gentle reminder to pause, look up and smile.
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