Northern lights in Nottingham tonight
East Midlands · 52° magnetic latitude · Kp 6-7 threshold
Kp 1 is well below the Kp 6-7 threshold needed for aurora to be visible from Nottingham.
7-day outlook for Nottingham
Based on CME arrival predictions from NASA DONKI. Arrival times ±6 hours.
auroratonight.space
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
Get directions ↗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
Get directions ↗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
Get directions ↗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
Get directions ↗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.
Best time to see the northern lights in Nottingham
At 52°N magnetic latitude, Nottingham 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 Nottingham'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.
Other UK aurora forecasts
Up to 8 locations
How often does the aurora appear in Nottingham?
Average nights per month the Kp reached Nottingham'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 Nottingham
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
Live aurora forecast hub for all UK regions.
Read →Northern Lights Derby Tonight
Derby has even faster access to the Peak District dark sites.
Read →Northern Lights Sheffield Tonight
Sheffield is the nearest city to the Dark Peak moors.
Read →Northern Lights Lincoln Tonight
Lincoln and the Lincolnshire Wolds dark sky area.
Read →What Is the Kp Index?
What Kp 6-7 means for aurora at 52°N magnetic latitude.
Read →Aurora photographs from Nottingham
Real photos sourced from Wikimedia Commons.
Aurora over Nottingham 
Aurora over Nottingham 
Aurora over Nottingham 
Aurora over Nottingham 
Aurora over Nottingham 
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