All locations Denmark Bornholm

Northern lights Bornholm tonight

Bornholm is Denmark's most easterly and most aurora-favourable island - at 55°N magnetic latitude, surrounded by the Baltic Sea with dark coastline on all sides. Kp 5 is the threshold from the north coast. The Hammerknuden granite headland at the island's northern tip faces across the Bornholmsgattet with no land between Bornholm and Sweden's southernmost point 40 km away. Best season: September to March.

Aurora visibility - Bornholm

Unlikely tonight

Kp 1 is well below the Kp 5–6 threshold needed for aurora to be visible from Bornholm.

Current Kp

1

of 9

Threshold for Bornholm: Kp 5–6 Magnetic latitude: ~55°N Updated: 21 May, 22:55 UTC
↓ Bz nT Solar wind km/s Density p/cm³
Conditions right now: Kp + Bz + solar wind + cloud + moon

7-day outlook for Bornholm

Today

21 May

Quiet

Tomorrow

22 May

Quiet

Sat

23 May

Quiet

Sun

24 May

Quiet

Mon

25 May

Quiet

Tue

26 May

Quiet

Wed

27 May

Quiet

Based on CME arrival predictions from NASA DONKI. Arrival times ±6 hours.

What Kp is needed here?

Bornholm sits at a magnetic latitude of approximately 55°N. The Kp index - a global measure of geomagnetic activity on a scale from 0 (quiet) to 9 (extreme storm), updated every 3 hours - needs to reach Kp 5–6 before the auroral oval expands far enough south to be visible from here.

At Kp 5–6, visibility is possible from Bornholm but skies need to be clear and dark. Cloud cover and light pollution remain the main obstacles even when Kp is high enough.

Best dark sky sites near Bornholm

Light pollution is the biggest obstacle after cloud cover. These sites give you the best dark northern horizon within reach.

Hammerknuden rocky headland

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Bortle Class 3 - Rural sky 10 km from Sandvig - approximately 12 minute drive

The northernmost point of Bornholm at the Hammeren peninsula, a granite rocky headland facing north across the Baltic toward Sweden's southernmost point. No settlements lie to the north, and the Hammerhavn harbour 500 m to the south has minimal lighting. Accessible by car to a car park near Hammerfyr lighthouse, then a 10-minute walk on a marked path - the site faces north-northwest with a completely open sea horizon. Once away from the car park lights the headland is genuinely dark, with the granite outcrops providing a distinctive foreground against the northern sky.

Slettebakken viewpoint

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Bortle Class 3 - Rural sky 5 km from Allinge - approximately 8 minute drive

An elevated coastal heath position on the northwest coast of Bornholm above Allinge, giving open northerly views across Bornholmsgattet toward southern Sweden. The surrounding heath carries no artificial lighting, and Allinge's modest light dome sits to the southeast where it does not affect the northern horizon. A signed viewpoint with a small car park on route 158 makes this accessible year-round on tarmac road. The position reaches Bortle Class 3 from the heath and is the most convenient dark north-facing site close to the island's main tourist settlements.

Almindingen forest clearings

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Bortle Class 3-4 - Rural sky 20 km from Rønne - approximately 25 minute drive

Denmark's third largest forest, occupying the centre of Bornholm at up to 162 m altitude - the highest point on the island. Forest roads give access to dark clearings away from the perimeter, and the Rytterknægten tower at 162 m provides elevated sky access above the tree canopy. The forest interior reaches Bortle Class 3-4 depending on position within it, with the surrounding heath and farmland outside the forest adding to the overall darkness. Accessible via forest roads from route 34.

Best time to see the northern lights in Bornholm

At 55°N magnetic latitude, Bornholm sits at the lower end of regular aurora territory. Only the deep mid-winter months of November through January offer nights dark enough for aurora to be visible, and only then when a significant geomagnetic storm pushes the auroral oval this far south.

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Activity peaks around the September and March equinoxes, when Earth's magnetic field geometry is most favourable for coupling with the solar wind. Events during these two windows tend to produce the strongest displays of the year for observers at Bornholm's latitude.

Outside November through January, twilight is too bright for aurora viewing even during significant storms. The season is short, but the equinox months on either side of winter can extend it slightly when storm timing aligns.

Common questions

Northern lights from Bornholm - Hammerknuden, Slettebakken, and when to go.

What Kp is needed for northern lights from Bornholm?
The Kp index is a global measure of geomagnetic activity on a scale from 0 (quiet) to 9 (extreme storm), updated every 3 hours. Bornholm at 55°N magnetic latitude - the same band as Flensburg in Germany and Newcastle in England - needs Kp 5 from dark coastal sites. The north coast at Hammerknuden gives the best threshold of any position on the island. During G1 storms (Kp 5), the auroral oval extends to around 55°N magnetic latitude and a green arc becomes detectable on the northern horizon from dark sites. Strong G2 events (Kp 6) bring structural aurora with rays and bands.
How does Bornholm compare to Copenhagen for aurora?
Bornholm sits approximately 1.5 degrees further north than Copenhagen at 55°N versus 56°N magnetic latitude, which reduces the effective Kp threshold by around half a point. The more significant advantage is dark sky. Bornholm has around 40,000 permanent residents and no major light pollution sources on its north coast. Copenhagen's metropolitan area creates a sky glow that raises the practical threshold to Kp 6-7. From the north coast of Bornholm, Kp 5 conditions produce aurora detectable with the naked eye.
How do I get to Bornholm?
Bornholm is served by Bornholmstrafikken ferries from Rønne harbour - the main route runs from Ystad in Sweden (80 minutes) and Copenhagen's Nordhavn (5 hours). Stena Line also operates routes from Sassnitz in Germany. Direct flights operate from Copenhagen airport year-round with BornholmFly, taking 45 minutes. The island has a limited bus network; a hire car is necessary for reaching the north coast dark sky sites independently. Sandvig and Allinge, the two settlements closest to Hammerknuden, are 10 km from Rønne.
Is Bornholm's north coast good for aurora photography?
The granite rock formations at Hammerknuden give a distinctive foreground for aurora images - the angular Baltic granite outcrops are different from the sandy or cliff coastlines of the Danish mainland. The north-facing aspect gives a clear horizon over the Bornholmsgattet with southern Sweden 40 km away, too far to contribute any light pollution. The Hammerfyr lighthouse tower provides a vertical element in compositions. Long autumn nights give 8-10 hours of darkness and the island's clear maritime air gives better transparency than inland positions at the same latitude.
When is aurora season on Bornholm?
September to March. The equinox months of September-October and February-March give the highest probability of combining elevated geomagnetic activity with adequate darkness. Bornholm's Baltic position gives it more stable, colder winter air than Denmark's west-facing Jutland coast, which catches more Atlantic cloud. February and March particularly benefit from cold, clear high-pressure systems that sit over the Baltic for days at a time.

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