Look up. Know where to face.
Northern lights in the UK
An aurora alert tells you about activity. Your viewing position decides whether you have a clear, dark view of it. Choose a UK location to plan the night and see which direction to face.
Find your northern viewing directionYour 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 ↗Choose the horizon, then the viewing position
Start with a clear view to the north, away from nearby lights. A dark sky location can still have hills or trees blocking the northern horizon. The map shows a north-facing guide from your pin; it does not measure light pollution, terrain obstruction or the position of an auroral display.
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
Can I see the northern lights in the UK tonight?
It depends on current geomagnetic activity, cloud, darkness and your horizon. Check the latest official sources above. A regional forecast is a possibility, not a guarantee at your location.
Which direction should I face?
Start with a clear northern horizon. The green dashed map line marks true north. A magnetic compass can differ slightly; during strong activity, scan overhead and other directions too.
What is the best time to look?
There is no fixed time. Watch during local darkness when activity is elevated and cloud allows. Use the night-starting date: times after midnight belong to the following morning.
Does a low cloud percentage mean I will see aurora?
No. It is a modelled estimate for one hour, and clouds can still sit on the northern horizon. It says nothing about geomagnetic activity or the strength of the display.
Does SunPoint send aurora alerts?
This page is a viewing planner, with links to AuroraWatch UK's current status and alert services. It does not send aurora notifications.