Auroras occur when solar wind, made of charged particles from the sun, slams into Earth’s magnetic field. These particles travel along magnetic lines and collide with gases in our atmosphere, creating bursts of energy that we see as glowing colors in the sky.

The color of each aurora depends on the gas involved. Oxygen glows green and red. Nitrogen creates purples and blues. These same light-emitting reactions are the foundation of how light behaves. It’s atomic science, visible to the naked eye.

In the southern hemisphere, these luminous waves are called the Aurora Australis. Australia’s best views happen in Tasmania, southern Victoria, and sometimes parts of South Australia and New South Wales. They may not happen every night, but when they do, it’s unforgettable.

At the core of every aurora is a concept we explore often at CMY Cubes; light refraction, emission, and color theory. When solar particles energize atoms in the atmosphere, the electrons inside those atoms absorb that energy and leap to a higher state. When the electrons settle back to normal, they release the energy as photons. Those photons are what we see as light.

Each element glows a different color depending on how much energy is released. This is the same reason your CMY Cube shifts through a kaleidoscope of colors when you turn it. You’re manipulating the path of light, seeing how different wavelengths mix, reflect, and pass through transparent materials.

This is also why auroras ripple and shift. The magnetic field constantly changes, guiding solar particles in different patterns and at different altitudes, which affects the shape and tone of the colors above.

To catch an aurora in Australia, you need the right mix of conditions. The Southern Lights are most visible between March and September, during the colder months when nights are longer and the skies are often clearer.

The best locations are far from city lights. Tasmania offers some of the most consistent views, with popular spots including Mount Wellington, South Arm Peninsula, and Cradle Mountain. Southern parts of Victoria and South Australia also experience auroral events, especially during periods of high solar activity.

A solar storm or solar flare increases the chances. You can even monitor aurora forecasts through various apps and observatories that track geomagnetic conditions.

Auroras are rare, but not once-in-a-lifetime rare. Their visibility follows the solar cycle, which spans roughly 11 years. During solar maximum, the sun releases more energy, making auroras more frequent and vibrant.

We’re currently approaching the peak of the solar cycle, expected around late 2025. That means this is one of the best times in a decade to chase the Southern Lights. With the right tools and timing, anyone in southern Australia has a good shot at witnessing one of nature’s greatest performances.

Auroras are a gateway to learning. They bring space science, Earth’s magnetic fields, and atomic energy into real-world context. Kids and adults alike can better understand complex topics when they can connect them to something they’ve actually seen.

Pair this with CMY Cubes, and you have the perfect hands-on teaching combo. You can explore how light splits, how colors combine, and how perspective changes everything. These moments of interaction stick. They build understanding through play and wonder, which is exactly what modern STEAM learning should be.

Some topics to explore further at home or in the classroom include:

• How Earth’s magnetic field protects us

• The role of solar flares and sunspots

• Why different elements produce different colors

• How light wavelengths relate to color and visibility

You can even recreate aurora-style effects using lasers, prisms, or by observing light through your CMY Cube under various light sources.

Every time you hold a CMY Cube, you’re engaging with the same science that lights up the night sky. Our cubes rely on subtractive color mixing and refraction, the same principles that make auroras glow green or red. These are not just toys. They’re tools for exploring curiosity and creativity through the language of light.

Whether it’s a child discovering color theory for the first time or an adult reigniting their love for science, these small tools spark big ideas. The joy of watching colors change in your hand mirrors the excitement of seeing them dance above your head.

Australian auroras are rare, powerful, and filled with meaning. They take science out of the lab and into the world, just like CMY Cubes do in your home or classroom. They teach us that color is more than what we see. It’s what we feel. It’s what we learn through. It’s the perfect mix of education, emotion, and enchantment.

So next time the skies shimmer or your cube shifts in your hand, remember what’s happening. You’re not just witnessing light. You’re exploring it.

Let curiosity lead the way. Light the path with learning. And keep looking up.