Look up. Know where to face.
UK aurora alerts: what do the colours mean?
An activity alert, a space weather forecast and a local cloud forecast answer different questions. Use all three to decide whether to watch. An alert colour alone cannot promise that you will see the northern lights from your pin.
Find your northern viewing directionGreen and yellow
Green means UK sightings are unlikely. Yellow means possible naked-eye sightings in Scotland; cameras may detect aurora in Scotland, northern England and Northern Ireland. These are activity-level meanings, not a reading of the current status on this page.
Amber and red
Amber guidance indicates likely naked-eye visibility in Scotland, northern England and Northern Ireland, with possibilities farther south and photographic potential UK-wide. Red indicates likely visibility by eye and camera across the UK. Darkness, cloud and your horizon still matter at either level.
Forecasts look ahead; alerts describe activity
The Met Office outlook is useful for planning a possible viewing night ahead of time. Recheck it before travelling, then follow the official activity service as the night develops. Use SunPoint for the local darkness window, north-facing pin and hourly cloud estimate. Keep the issue time of each source in mind when comparing them.
Your night. Your northern horizon.
Select a starting city, then tap the map or drag the pin to where you will stand. All times use UK local time.
↑ Face north · 0° true
Green dashed line = north-facing guide
Edinburgh · 55.9533, -3.1883. North is a starting direction, not a prediction of where an aurora will appear. During strong activity, check overhead and other directions too. This map does not assess cloud, horizon obstruction or darkness on the ground.
Inspect this viewing position in OpenStreetMap ↗Darkness for this viewing pin
Night of 2026-10-08 → 2026-10-09 · UK local time
- Sunset
- 18:32 GMT+1
- Civil twilight ends
- 19:09 GMT+1
- Full astronomical darkness starts
- 20:36 GMT+1
- Full astronomical darkness ends
- 05:28 GMT+1
- Civil dawn
- 06:55 GMT+1
Full darkness is a planning aid, not a required start time: a bright aurora can show during twilight. There is no fixed aurora arrival time. No crossing means that solar threshold is not crossed on this date.
Moon at local midnight: 3% illuminated · below the calculated horizon. This does not describe the whole night.
Cloud at your chosen time
Cloud forecast unavailable
Forecasts cover the provider's available dates. Missing data does not mean clear skies.
1. Check activity
Read the current AuroraWatch UK status and the Met Office outlook. This planner does not display a live geomagnetic alert.
Check current AuroraWatch UK status ↗2. Check the sky
Cloud can hide the display. Compare the local cloud estimate above with a current forecast for your route and viewing position.
Check the Met Office cloud map ↗3. Check the horizon
Use the north-facing guide, then assess buildings, hills and trees in person. Choose a familiar accessible spot and check local access and weather.
Read AuroraWatch UK's direction advice ↗Read the alert alongside local conditions
AuroraWatch UK measures geomagnetic activity. Its colour guidance describes broad UK visibility potential, with different expectations for eyes and cameras. SunPoint links to the official current status; the planner does not display or generate a live alert.
Official AuroraWatch UK alert meanings and subscriptions ↗What will you actually see?
A faint aurora may look like a pale glow or band by eye. A camera can record colours your eyes do not pick up as clearly. Try a steady phone night-mode photo, but do not treat colourful photographs as a promise of the same naked-eye view. Look for changing structure; ordinary cloud and urban skyglow can also colour a photograph.
When should I arrive?
Use sunset and twilight times to plan access and set up before it is fully dark. Leave time for your eyes to adapt, keep screen brightness low and recheck activity. The calculated darkness window tells you about sunlight, not when a solar storm will arrive.
Aurora forecasts, regional guides and practical advice
Northern lights questions
Does a red alert guarantee a sighting?
No. Cloud, daylight and a blocked or bright horizon can still prevent a view.
Is an amber alert only for Scotland?
No. Read the official regional and camera guidance linked above.
Why can an alert arrive during the day?
Geomagnetic activity can change at any hour. Visible viewing still requires darkness.
Is a forecast the same as an alert?
No. A forecast describes expected conditions; an activity service monitors measurements.
Where can I subscribe to alerts?
Use the official AuroraWatch UK alert page. SunPoint does not send notifications.