Spot planets, galaxies and constellations in the Australian night sky – and look out for more auroras in 2025 as the sun reaches solar maximum

It’s summer in Australia and that means many of us head out of the city and off to a remote camping site, where the night sky shines bright with stars. Australian First Nations astronomers have built knowledge around the stars for about 65,000 years. But what should the beginner look for? This five-step guide will have you navigating the sky in no time – no telescope or star chart needed.