Northern lights in Reims tonight

Real-time aurora forecast for Reims (Grand Est) - latitude 49.26° N, estimated Kp threshold 7.9.

Kp index

3.0unsettled

Hemispheric power

North45GW

South48GW

Source: app.pulsar-si.com

Tonight in Reims

Very unlikely

Based on Kp 3.0 and Reims's latitude.

Seeing the northern lights from Reims

Reims, at 49.3° N, sits in the heart of Champagne, in a wide agricultural plain. The observation threshold is around Kp 6.5-7. The champagne vineyard (Montagne de Reims, Côte des Blancs) offers high ground with a perfectly clear northern horizon. Light pollution here is much lower than near Paris, and the Champagne countryside remains one of the best observation grounds within 150 km of the capital.

Observation conditions in Reims

Reims is rated Bortle 6. The champagne slopes around Hautvillers and Verzenay drop to Bortle 4. Further, the Argonne forest (Bortle 3, 60 km east) and the Langres plateau offer remarkable skies. The continental climate provides clearer nights more often than Paris, especially in winter. Watch out for morning humidity: dew can end a session early.

Recent auroras from Reims

10-11 May 2024 (Kp 9): pink and red aurora photographed from the Montagne de Reims and the Côte des Blancs vineyards. 5 November 2023 (Kp 7): vineyard sightings. 27 February 2023 (Kp 6): faint but visible aurora in the Argonne.

Local conditions

Light pollution

Bortle 7 of 9

SQM 18.90 mag/arcsec²

Nearest darker sky

Val de Murigny

2 km · Bortle 3

Kp forecast, next 3 days

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

Sun 05 Apr

2.8

Expected max Kp

Frequently asked questions

Can you see the northern lights from Reims?

Yes, but rarely. Typically a Kp index of ≥ 7.9 is needed for the aurora to become visible from Reims (latitude 49.3° 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 Reims?

The approximate Kp threshold for Reims 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 Reims?

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 Reims offers better conditions?

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

Nearby cities

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