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Nouvelle-Aquitaine

Northern lights in Limoges tonight

Real-time aurora forecast for Limoges (Nouvelle-Aquitaine) - latitude 45.83° N, estimated Kp threshold 9.

Kp index
6.3
moderate
Hemispheric power
North35GW
South38GW

Source: app.pulsar-si.com
Tonight in Limoges
Very unlikely
Based on Kp 6.3 and Limoges's latitude.

Seeing the northern lights from Limoges

Limoges, at 45.8° N in the Limousin, benefits from moderate light pollution and a very rural environment. Auroras become visible from Kp 7. The nearby Millevaches plateau is an International Dark Sky Reserve - one of the darkest in Western Europe, classed Bortle 2-3 in its most remote areas.

Observation conditions in Limoges

Bortle 6 over Limoges. The Millevaches plateau (Bortle 2-3, 60 km east) is among the best skies in Europe, an International Dark Sky Reserve. Rural Corrèze and Creuse offer remarkable conditions over wide areas. The altitude (~700 m) adds atmospheric transparency, especially in autumn and winter.

Recent auroras from Limoges

10-11 May 2024 (Kp 9): red and green aurora from the Millevaches plateau, photos awarded in astrophotography contests. 24 March 2024 (Kp 8): confirmed observations in Corrèze. 5 November 2023 (Kp 7): aurora reported from the plateau.

Local conditions

Light pollution
Bortle 6 of 9
SQM 18.98 mag/arcsec²
Nearest darker sky
Ventadour
2 km · Bortle 2

Frequently asked questions

Can you see the northern lights from Limoges?
Yes, but rarely. Typically a Kp index of ≥ 9 is needed for the aurora to become visible from Limoges (latitude 45.8° 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 Limoges?
The approximate Kp threshold for Limoges 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 Limoges?
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 Limoges offers better conditions?
Move at least 40-60 km north of Limoges to escape urban light pollution and gain 1-2 magnitudes of limiting magnitude.

Nearby cities

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Clermont-Ferrand
Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Bordeaux
Centre-Val de Loire
Tours
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