Northern lights in Bordeaux tonight

Real-time aurora forecast for Bordeaux (Nouvelle-Aquitaine) - latitude 44.84° N, estimated Kp threshold 9.

Kp index

3.0unsettled

Hemispheric power

North45GW

South48GW

Source: app.pulsar-si.com

Tonight in Bordeaux

Very unlikely

Based on Kp 3.0 and Bordeaux's latitude.

Seeing the northern lights from Bordeaux

Bordeaux is at 44.8° N, in central western France. Auroras here typically require Kp ≥ 7.5. The Gironde estuary opens an exceptionally clear northern horizon, enabling observation from the Pointe de Grave or Le Verdon. The Landes, to the south, offer one of the best night skies in Europe. The May 2024 storm produced a red aurora visible from the Place de la Bourse and the Garonne embankments.

Observation conditions in Bordeaux

Bordeaux is rated Bortle 7 downtown, Bortle 8 across the wider metro area. The Landes forests, at 40-80 km, offer Bortle 2-3 skies, among the darkest in metropolitan France. The Arcachon basin, despite its tourist activity, has very dark dune zones. The oceanic climate brings frequent clouds: check cloud cover before you go.

Recent auroras from Bordeaux

10-11 May 2024 (Kp 9): spectacular red aurora visible from Pointe de Grave, the Landes and the Médoc. Images published by Sud Ouest. 24 March 2024 (Kp 8): confirmed sightings in rural Gironde.

Local conditions

Light pollution

Bortle 8 of 9

SQM 18.26 mag/arcsec²

Nearest darker sky

Grand Parc

2 km · Bortle 6

Kp forecast, next 3 days

Source: app.pulsar-si.com. For an aurora to be visible from Bordeaux, Kp must exceed 9.

Sun 05 Apr

2.8

Expected max Kp

Frequently asked questions

Can you see the northern lights from Bordeaux?

Yes, but rarely. Typically a Kp index of ≥ 9 is needed for the aurora to become visible from Bordeaux (latitude 44.8° N). Major geomagnetic storms (Kp 8-9) that reach this latitude happen only a handful of times per 11-year solar cycle.

What Kp index is needed to see auroras from Bordeaux?

The approximate Kp threshold for Bordeaux is 9. Below that, auroras stay confined to high latitudes (Norway, Scotland). Above it, they gradually extend southward. A Kp of 10 gives a fair chance, 11 a strong one.

When is the best time to watch from Bordeaux?

Auroras are a nighttime phenomenon, best observed between roughly 10 PM and 2 AM local time, when the geomagnetic pole is tilted towards the Earth's night side. In practice, peaks depend on when a coronal mass ejection arrives - activity can spike at any hour.

Where around Bordeaux offers better conditions?

Move at least 40-60 km north of Bordeaux to escape urban light pollution and gain 1-2 magnitudes of limiting magnitude.

Nearby cities

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