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Northern lights Nottingham tonight

Nottingham sits at ~52°N magnetic latitude. Kp 6-7 is the practical threshold from nearby dark sites. Clumber Park is 25 minutes north; the Peak District and Lincolnshire Wolds are 40-45 minutes for genuinely dark conditions.

Aurora visibility — Nottingham

Unlikely tonight

Kp 1 is well below the Kp 6-7 threshold needed for aurora to be visible from Nottingham.

Current Kp

1

of 9

Threshold for Nottingham: Kp 6-7 Magnetic latitude: ~52°N Updated: 10 May, 11:04 UTC

What Kp is needed here?

Nottingham sits at a magnetic latitude of approximately 52°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 Nottingham 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 Nottingham

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

Peak District - eastern Dark Peak

About 40 minutes north-west of Nottingham. The gritstone moors around Stanage Edge and the Derwent Valley give Bortle 4 dark sky conditions with north-facing views. The nearest substantial dark sky area to the city.

Lincolnshire Wolds AONB

About 45 minutes north-east of Nottingham. The rolling chalk hills give elevated positions facing north over the flat Lincolnshire plain. Bortle 4-5 with minimal light pollution to the north and east.

Sherwood Forest and Clumber Park

About 25 minutes north of Nottingham. The open heathland and parkland within Clumber Park is substantially darker than the city. Not a remote dark sky site, but a useful intermediate option for strong events without a long drive.

Kingsmill Reservoir and Annesley area

The open farmland north of the city around Annesley and Kirkby-in-Ashfield drops the light dome significantly. Combined with open north-facing farmland, this gives a practical 20-minute escape from Nottingham's light pollution.

Other UK aurora forecasts

UK overview Derby Sheffield Lincoln

Related pages

Northern Lights UK

Live aurora forecast hub for all UK regions.

Northern Lights Derby Tonight

Derby has even faster access to the Peak District dark sites.

Northern Lights Sheffield Tonight

Sheffield is the nearest city to the Dark Peak moors.

Northern Lights Lincoln Tonight

Lincoln and the Lincolnshire Wolds dark sky area.

What Is the Kp Index?

What Kp 6-7 means for aurora at 52°N magnetic latitude.

Common questions

Aurora watching from Nottingham and the East Midlands.

Can you see the northern lights from Nottingham?
During major storms (Kp 7+) aurora has been reported from the northern fringes of Nottingham, where the city light dome is lower and the horizon is unobstructed to the north. For Kp 6, Clumber Park or a drive into the Peak District or Lincolnshire Wolds is needed for a clear display.
What Kp is needed for aurora near Nottingham?
Kp 6-7 from dark sites to the north or north-west. Nottingham sits at ~52°N magnetic latitude alongside Birmingham and Leicester. This latitude requires a moderate-to-strong geomagnetic storm for aurora to be reliably visible.
Where is the best place near Nottingham to see the northern lights?
Clumber Park north of the city is the quickest dark site at 25 minutes. For a proper display, the Peak District (40 min west) or Lincolnshire Wolds (45 min east) give genuinely dark sky conditions at higher elevation. The Peak District is generally darker and has better north-facing sky positions.
Is Sherwood Forest dark enough for aurora?
Sherwood Forest and the Clumber Park area are darker than Nottingham but still affected by the regional light dome from the city. They are a practical option for major storms (Kp 7+) without driving an hour. For Kp 6, the Peak District or Lincolnshire Wolds are worth the extra distance.
How does Nottingham compare to Derby and Leicester for aurora?
Very similar - all three cities sit within a few kilometres of each other in magnetic latitude and share the Kp 6-7 threshold. Derby has slightly faster access to the Peak District (Kp 6 sites from Derby are 20-30 min). All three benefit from driving north or north-west toward darker areas.