Northern lights over Kirkwall tonight — aurora forecast
Live geomagnetic conditions vs what Kirkwall, UK actually needs to see the aurora borealis (northern lights).
🟢 Likely tonight
Geomagnetic activity is high enough — get away from city lights and look now.
Kp now
1.33
Tonight's max (forecast)
6
Kirkwall needs
Kp 4.5
Geomagnetic lat.
56.3°
Live data: NOAA SWPC planetary K-index · refreshes every 30 min · get a free storm alert
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What it takes to see the aurora borealis (northern lights) from Kirkwall
Aurora visibility is set by your geomagnetic latitude — your position relative to Earth's magnetic pole, not the geographic one. Kirkwall sits at 56.3° geomagnetic. The auroral oval hovers near 66° in quiet conditions and expands toward the equator as geomagnetic storms strengthen: roughly 2° per step of the Kp index. For Kirkwall that means a moderate-to-strong storm (Kp 4.5+) pushes the oval close enough to see glow on the northern horizon.
How to actually catch it
- Get away from city lights with a clear view of the northern horizon — light pollution is the #1 killer of borderline displays.
- Best window: 22:00–02:00 local time; best seasons: around the equinoxes, and dark winter months at high latitudes.
- Your camera sees more than your eyes: a 5-10s phone night-mode exposure reveals green/red glow invisible to the naked eye.
- Storms spike with little warning — get a free storm alert and check Aurora forecast when Kp jumps.
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FAQ
Can I see the northern lights tonight in Kirkwall?
Good odds: tonight's Kp is 6, above the Kp 4.5 Kirkwall needs. Get away from city lights and watch the northern horizon between about 22:00 and 02:00. Updated every 30 minutes from NOAA SWPC data.
Can you see the aurora from Kirkwall?
Yes, when geomagnetic activity is strong enough. Kirkwall sits at geomagnetic latitude 56.3°, which means the aurora becomes visible on the northern horizon at roughly Kp 4.5 — during moderate to strong storms.
What Kp index does Kirkwall need for aurora?
About Kp 4.5. The auroral oval sits near 66° geomagnetic latitude in quiet conditions and pushes roughly 2° toward the equator with each Kp step; Kirkwall's geomagnetic latitude is 56.3°. You don't need the oval directly overhead — NOAA notes the aurora can be seen on the horizon from up to 1000 km away, but that reach grows with the storm: this figure credits none of it near the oval, where low-Kp aurora is faint and low, and up to 2.5 Kp at mid-latitudes, where storm aurora is tall and bright.
Which direction should I look for the aurora in Kirkwall?
North. From Kirkwall the auroral oval lies toward the north magnetic pole, so the aurora appears low on the northern horizon first. Pick a spot with an open northward view, away from city lights — your phone's night mode picks up glow your eyes miss.
When is the best time to see the aurora?
Around local midnight (22:00–02:00), on dark clear nights away from city lights, and statistically around the equinoxes (March/April and September/October). Solar maximum — happening now — delivers the most storms.
Aurora forecasts for cities near Kirkwall
- Aurora forecast for Lerwick — needs Kp 4.2
- Aurora forecast for Inverness — needs Kp 5.1
- Aurora forecast for Aberdeen — needs Kp 5.3
- Aurora forecast for Edinburgh — needs Kp 5.7
- Aurora forecast for Glasgow — needs Kp 5.7
- Aurora forecast for Newcastle — needs Kp 6.1
This city elsewhere on Cosmik
More from the sky over Kirkwall
The aurora isn't the only show: the ISS passes over Kirkwall on a predictable schedule, the Sun's live flare level tells you when the next storm is brewing, and Cosmik's live 3D map shows everything in orbit right now.
