Northern lights in Nantes tonight

Seeing the northern lights from Nantes

Nantes, at 47.2° N, benefits from its position on the Atlantic façade to offer a clear northern horizon over the Loire and the Pays de Retz plain. The oceanic climate generates frequent cloud cover though, which complicates observation. Auroras become visible around Kp 6.5-7. The May 2024 storm produced a particularly photogenic show thanks to clear skies that night, with red auroras from the Loire embankments.

Observation conditions in Nantes

Central Nantes is rated Bortle 7. At 30 km, the Clisson countryside and the marshes of Grand-Lieu drop to Bortle 4. For a truly starry sky, head to the Groulais forest (north of the Loire, 50 km) or the south coast of Loire-Atlantique (Bortle 3-4, 60 km). Sea breezes and passing clouds are the main constraint: check cloud cover the day before.

Recent auroras from Nantes

10-11 May 2024 (Kp 9): spectacular red and green aurora, photographed from the Loire embankments and the Cheviré bridge. Nantes was among the major French cities with the best images that night, thanks to a clear sky. 5 November 2023 (Kp 7): rural sightings.