Northern lights in Metz tonight

Real-time aurora forecast for Metz (Grand Est) - latitude 49.12° N, estimated Kp threshold 7.9.

Kp index

3.0unsettled

Hemispheric power

North45GW

South48GW

Source: app.pulsar-si.com

Tonight in Metz

Very unlikely

Based on Kp 3.0 and Metz's latitude.

Seeing the northern lights from Metz

Metz, at 49.1° N, sits in Lorraine in the Moselle valley. The observation threshold is around Kp 6.5-7, comparable to Reims. The Lorraine countryside and the northern Vosges, easily accessible, offer some of the darkest skies in north-eastern France. Lorraine's far-northern position makes it, statistically, a good aurora observation ground despite its proximity to industrial zones.

Observation conditions in Metz

Metz is rated Bortle 6. The Lorraine regional park (Bortle 4, 40 km west) and the northern Vosges (Bortle 3, 50 km east) offer quality skies. Further, the Vosges crests (Donon, Champ du Feu, Hohneck) reach Bortle 3. The continental climate provides more frequent clear nights than the coast, especially in winter with anticyclone frosts.

Recent auroras from Metz

10-11 May 2024 (Kp 9): pink and green aurora photographed from the Lorraine plateau, the northern Vosges and the crest line. 5 November 2023 (Kp 7): faint aurora visible in rural Lorraine. 8 September 2017 (Kp 7.7): sightings in Moselle.

Local conditions

Light pollution

Bortle 7 of 9

SQM 18.65 mag/arcsec²

Nearest darker sky

Le Sablon

2 km · Bortle 4

Kp forecast, next 3 days

Source: app.pulsar-si.com. For an aurora to be visible from Metz, Kp must exceed 7.9.

Sun 05 Apr

2.8

Expected max Kp

Frequently asked questions

Can you see the northern lights from Metz?

Yes, but rarely. Typically a Kp index of ≥ 7.9 is needed for the aurora to become visible from Metz (latitude 49.1° 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 Metz?

The approximate Kp threshold for Metz is 7.9. Below that, auroras stay confined to high latitudes (Norway, Scotland). Above it, they gradually extend southward. A Kp of 8.9 gives a fair chance, 9.9 a strong one.

When is the best time to watch from Metz?

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 Metz offers better conditions?

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

Nearby cities

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