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Bretagne

Northern lights in Lorient tonight

Real-time aurora forecast for Lorient (Bretagne) - latitude 47.75° N, estimated Kp threshold 8.6.

Kp index
6.3
moderate
Hemispheric power
North35GW
South38GW

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

Seeing the northern lights from Lorient

Lorient, in the Morbihan, at 47.75° N, watches the northern horizon over the bay. Auroras become visible from Kp 7. Nearby roadstead and islands (Groix, Belle-Île) offer exceptional coastal observation points with low light pollution. May 2024 produced sharp auroras visible from the harbour and the Île de Groix.

Observation conditions in Lorient

Bortle 6 in the centre. The Île de Groix (Bortle 4, 8 km offshore) and the Quiberon peninsula (Bortle 5, 30 km south-east) offer marine skies. The Florange forest and the Lanvaux moors climb to Bortle 4-5. Belle-Île-en-Mer, further out, is among the best southern Brittany skies, listed as a remarkable French sky.

Recent auroras from Lorient

10-11 May 2024 (Kp 9): aurora visible from the harbour and the Île de Groix. 24 March 2024 (Kp 8): observations from the Quiberon peninsula. 5 November 2023 (Kp 7): sightings on Belle-Île.

Local conditions

Light pollution
Bortle 6 of 9
SQM 19.49 mag/arcsec²
Nearest darker sky
Lanveur
2 km · Bortle 2

Frequently asked questions

Can you see the northern lights from Lorient?
Yes, but rarely. Typically a Kp index of ≥ 8.6 is needed for the aurora to become visible from Lorient (latitude 47.7° 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 Lorient?
The approximate Kp threshold for Lorient is 8.6. Below that, auroras stay confined to high latitudes (Norway, Scotland). Above it, they gradually extend southward. A Kp of 9.6 gives a fair chance, 10.6 a strong one.
When is the best time to watch from Lorient?
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 Lorient offers better conditions?
Move at least 40-60 km north of Lorient to escape urban light pollution and gain 1-2 magnitudes of limiting magnitude.

Nearby cities

Bretagne
Quimper
Bretagne
Rennes
Pays de la Loire
Nantes
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