Physicist Craig Rodger, who heads the University of Otago space physics group, says the new Aurora Alert website offers free updates on when the aurora might be visible in the South, especially Dunedin.
The internet site - auroalert.otago.ac.nz - was launched at the Otago Museum in Dunedin earlier this week.
Also participating were museum director and astronomer
Ian Griffin, and Dunedin photographer and aurora chaser Simone Jackson.
Dr Griffin has championed a positive future for Dunedin night skies tourism, partly because the skies in and around the city are relatively free from light pollution.
Prof Rodger said the Otago internet site was helping to bring such economic benefits somewhat closer, and would also help make the city more interesting for residents wanting to see more of the heavens.
Prof Rodger was "really excited" by this initiative, which would be "fantastic in alerting people to know when to go out and take in these often incredibly spectacular events".
The aurora could be seen from Dunedin much more often than people had previously thought.
"This alert service should help people decide whether to head out," he said.
