Northern lights in Exmoor Dark Sky Reserve tonight
Somerset and Devon, southwest England · 51° magnetic latitude · Kp 6-7 threshold
Kp 1 is well below the Kp 6-7 threshold needed for aurora to be visible from Exmoor Dark Sky Reserve.
7-day outlook for Exmoor Dark Sky Reserve
Based on CME arrival predictions from NASA DONKI. Arrival times ±6 hours.
auroratonight.space
What Kp is needed here?
Exmoor Dark Sky Reserve sits at a magnetic latitude of approximately 51°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 6-7 before the auroral oval expands far enough south to be visible from here.
At Kp 6-7, visibility is possible from Exmoor Dark Sky Reserve 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 Exmoor Dark Sky Reserve
Light pollution is the biggest obstacle after cloud cover. These sites give you the best dark northern horizon within reach.
Holdstone Down
Get directions ↗An elevated north-facing moorland above the Bristol Channel coast. At around 350 m, Holdstone Down sits above valley cloud on many nights and faces north over the channel. The moorland is open in all directions with no trees blocking the horizon. This is one of the highest and darkest positions in the Exmoor Dark Sky Reserve accessible by road, with a small roadside car park giving direct moorland access.
County Gate viewpoint
Get directions ↗The highest roadside position on the A39 on the Somerset-Devon border, giving open moorland views in all directions. A designated viewpoint with parking. The north-facing aspect looks across the Bristol Channel toward Wales, with the Welsh coast lights visible in the far distance but not significantly affecting the northern sky. Often used by dark sky reserve tour leaders as the primary viewing point for public aurora events.
Brendon Common
Get directions ↗Open moorland in the heart of Exmoor with no development in any direction. The common is one of the most isolated positions in the reserve - a 15-minute walk from the nearest road gives total darkness. The flat moorland surface gives a clean horizon at 360 degrees. The Exmoor pony herds graze here at night. No light pollution from any direction reaches this position.
Best time to see the northern lights in Exmoor Dark Sky Reserve
At 51°N magnetic latitude, Exmoor Dark Sky Reserve 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.
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 Exmoor Dark Sky Reserve'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.
Up to 8 locations
How often does the aurora appear in Exmoor Dark Sky Reserve?
Average nights per month the Kp reached Exmoor Dark Sky Reserve's threshold of 6+, from 15 years of geomagnetic data (2010–2024).
Counts the Kp 6+ threshold only - cloud cover and local darkness are not included.
Kp data: GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, CC BY 4.0
Plan your trip to Exmoor Dark Sky Reserve
Best window
The January to March window averages 1 aurora nights - the strongest consecutive stretch of the year.
How long to stay
Aurora at this latitude requires patience - allow as many nights as possible during March.
Related pages
Northern Lights UK
UK-wide aurora forecast hub.
Read →Northern Lights Galloway Forest Tonight
Galloway Forest Dark Sky Park - Kp 4-5 at 55°N, Scotland.
Read →Northern Lights Northumberland Tonight
Northumberland Dark Sky Park - Kielder Observatory, Kp 5.
Read →Northern Lights Brecon Beacons Tonight
Brecon Beacons Dark Sky Reserve, Wales - Kp 6-7.
Read →What Is the Kp Index?
What Kp 6-7 means for aurora at 51°N magnetic latitude.
Read →Aurora photographs from Exmoor Dark Sky Reserve
Real photos sourced from Wikimedia Commons.
Aurora over Exmoor Dark Sky Reserve
Aurora over Exmoor Dark Sky Reserve
Aurora over Exmoor Dark Sky Reserve
Aurora over Exmoor Dark Sky Reserve
Aurora over Exmoor Dark Sky Reserve
Aurora over Exmoor Dark Sky ReservePlanning your aurora trip
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