Aurora Tonight
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Northern lights Orkney tonight

Orkney sits at ~59°N magnetic latitude. Kp 3 is enough for a display from most of the islands. One of the most aurora-active locations in the British Isles.

Aurora visibility — Orkney Islands

Unlikely tonight

Kp 1 is well below the Kp 3 threshold needed for aurora to be visible from Orkney Islands.

Current Kp

1

of 9

Threshold for Orkney Islands: Kp 3 Magnetic latitude: ~59°N Updated: 10 May, 11:08 UTC

What Kp is needed here?

Orkney Islands sits at a magnetic latitude of approximately 59°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 3 before the auroral oval expands far enough south to be visible from here.

At Kp 3, visibility is possible from Orkney Islands 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 Orkney Islands

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

Hoy island

Orkney's most dramatic island. Very low population, high moorland, and open sea on all sides. A short ferry from Houton gives access to some of the darkest skies in the UK.

Birsay Moor, west mainland

Open peat moorland in the north-west of Orkney mainland. No settlement for miles in the northern direction. The coast at Birsay gives open Atlantic views.

Yesnaby sea stacks, west mainland

Clifftop with dramatic sea views to the north and west. Accessible car park and short walk from the B9056. Very dark after sunset.

Egilsay and outer islands

The smaller outer islands of Orkney are extremely dark. Reachable by ferry from Tingwall. Even Egilsay on the east side faces north over open Orkney Sound.

Other UK aurora forecasts

UK overview Shetland Islands Inverness Scotland overview

Related pages

Northern Lights UK

Live aurora forecast hub for all UK regions.

Northern Lights Scotland

Scotland-wide aurora forecast.

Northern Lights Shetland Tonight

Shetland is even further north - Kp 2-3 threshold.

Best Time to See Northern Lights UK

Which months and conditions are most favourable.

What Is the Kp Index?

How the geomagnetic scale works and what Kp 3 means.

Common questions

Aurora watching from Orkney - frequency, best spots, and what to expect.

How good is Orkney for seeing the northern lights?
Excellent. Orkney sits at around 59°N magnetic latitude and needs only Kp 3 for aurora to be visible. The islands are largely dark, low-lying, and have open sea horizons in all directions. A clear night with even mild geomagnetic activity produces a display.
What Kp is needed for aurora in Orkney?
Kp 3 from a dark site away from Kirkwall and Stromness. At Kp 4+, aurora is clearly visible from most of the islands. Kp 5 and above produces bright, active displays.
When is the best time to see the northern lights in Orkney?
The season runs from late August through April. Midsummer never gets dark at Orkney's latitude. October through March has the longest dark windows and statistically elevated geomagnetic activity around both equinoxes.
Do you need to travel far from Kirkwall to see aurora?
About 10-15 minutes out of Kirkwall reduces light pollution significantly. The north-west of the mainland around Birsay is accessible and very dark. Hoy island (short ferry) and the outer islands are the darkest options.
Is Orkney better than the Scottish mainland for aurora?
Yes, for frequency and intensity. The 2-3 degree higher magnetic latitude compared to Inverness means the auroral oval is overhead more often and at lower Kp. Orkney aurora is also more likely to show movement and colour than a faint arc seen from further south.