Look up. Know where to face.
Which direction should I look for northern lights?
Start by finding north from the place you will stand. A promising area on a map can still put a ridge, building or bright town between you and a low display. Direction and a usable horizon are two separate checks.
Find your northern viewing directionAssess what is in front of you
Check the skyline along the north-facing line: trees, hills and buildings can hide a low display. Look for nearby lamps and bright skyglow in the same direction. The map does not calculate obstructions or measure darkness on the ground, so verify the view in person.
A coast does not automatically face north
An open sea horizon can be useful, but an east-facing beach may still have land or lights to the north. Move the pin along the position you are considering and inspect its orientation. Choose the location for the view you need, rather than assuming a coastline or dark sky label settles the question.
Keep scanning during a stronger display
A strong display may extend overhead and into other directions. Use north as a starting point, then look around as conditions develop. Save a plan with your pin, date and selected hour so you can reopen your position and share it with someone joining you.
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
Newcastle · 54.9783, -1.6178. 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
- 18:27 GMT+1
- Civil twilight ends
- 19:03 GMT+1
- Full astronomical darkness starts
- 20:28 GMT+1
- Full astronomical darkness ends
- 05:24 GMT+1
- Civil dawn
- 06:48 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 ↗Use true north from your viewing pin
The green dashed line in the planner shows a true-north bearing of 0°. Move the pin to your actual position, then compare that direction with features you can recognise. A magnetic compass may differ from true north. SunPoint's line is a viewing guide, not a tracked aurora position.
AuroraWatch UK: which direction to look ↗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
Should I face north or north-east?
Begin with an open northern horizon. The map marks true north; displays need not stay on that exact line.
Can northern lights appear overhead?
Yes, during stronger activity. Scan beyond the northern horizon as well.
Does the map know where the aurora is?
No. Its line shows a fixed true-north direction from your pin.
Does a dark sky site guarantee a good horizon?
No. A dark location can still have trees or hills blocking the direction you need.
Can I use my phone compass?
Use it as a guide, checking whether it shows magnetic or true north and comparing recognisable landmarks.