Nouvelle-Aquitaine

Northern lights in La Rochelle tonight

Real-time aurora forecast for La Rochelle (Nouvelle-Aquitaine) - latitude 46.16° N, estimated Kp threshold 9.

Kp index

6.3

moderate

Hemispheric power

North35GW

South38GW

Source: app.pulsar-si.com

Tonight in La Rochelle

Very unlikely

Based on Kp 6.3 and La Rochelle's latitude.

Seeing the northern lights from La Rochelle

La Rochelle, at 46.2° N on the Bay of Biscay, watches a western and north-western horizon over the Atlantic. Auroras become visible from Kp 7. The proximity of the islands (Ré, Aix, Oléron) offers low-pollution coastal observation points with a photogenic marine foreground for astrophotographers.

Observation conditions in La Rochelle

Bortle 6 in the centre. The Île de Ré (Bortle 4-5) and the Île d'Oléron (Bortle 5) offer open beaches and dunes. The Poitevin marshes (Bortle 4, 50 km north) are another quality site. The Pointe de l'Aiguillon is a classic marine observation point, with a perfectly clear north-western horizon over the sea.

Recent auroras from La Rochelle

10-11 May 2024 (Kp 9): aurora visible from the Île de Ré and the Pointe de Chassiron on Oléron. 24 March 2024 (Kp 8): sightings from the Poitevin marsh. 5 November 2023 (Kp 7): faint aurora observed from the neighbouring Vendée coast.

Local conditions

Light pollution

Bortle 5 of 9

SQM 19.52 mag/arcsec²

Nearest darker sky

La Rochelle

2 km · Bortle 2

Frequently asked questions

Can you see the northern lights from La Rochelle?

Yes, but rarely. Typically a Kp index of ≥ 9 is needed for the aurora to become visible from La Rochelle (latitude 46.2° 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 La Rochelle?

The approximate Kp threshold for La Rochelle 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 La Rochelle?

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 La Rochelle offers better conditions?

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

Nearby cities

Mobile app

Get an aurora alert in La Rochelle

Automatic notification the moment the Kp index crosses the visibility threshold for La Rochelle. Free alerts, forecasts tuned to your exact address.