Centre-Val de Loire

Northern lights in Orléans tonight

Real-time aurora forecast for Orléans (Centre-Val de Loire) - latitude 47.90° N, estimated Kp threshold 8.5.

Kp index

6.3

moderate

Hemispheric power

North35GW

South38GW

Source: app.pulsar-si.com

Tonight in Orléans

Very unlikely

Based on Kp 6.3 and Orléans's latitude.

Seeing the northern lights from Orléans

Orléans, at 47.9° N on the Loire, benefits from a favourable latitude and a clear northern horizon over the Loire valley. Auroras become visible from Kp 6.5-7. The Sologne to the south and the Beauce to the north offer very dark skies a short drive away. May 2024 produced spectacular auroras here, relayed by France 3 Centre.

Observation conditions in Orléans

Bortle 7 in the centre. The Sologne (Bortle 3-4, 30-50 km south) is among the darkest skies in the northern half of France. The Beauce, with little relief, also offers ideal plain conditions for observation. The Orléans forest (Bortle 5, 20 km north-east) is a close option for quick observation.

Recent auroras from Orléans

10-11 May 2024 (Kp 9): exceptional aurora visible from the Sologne, photos relayed by France 3 Centre. 24 March 2024 (Kp 8): observations from the Beauce. 5 November 2023 (Kp 7): faint aurora reported in the Sologne.

Local conditions

Light pollution

Bortle 7 of 9

SQM 18.84 mag/arcsec²

Nearest darker sky

Fleury-les-Aubrais

2 km · Bortle 3

Frequently asked questions

Can you see the northern lights from Orléans?

Yes, but rarely. Typically a Kp index of ≥ 8.5 is needed for the aurora to become visible from Orléans (latitude 47.9° 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 Orléans?

The approximate Kp threshold for Orléans is 8.5. Below that, auroras stay confined to high latitudes (Norway, Scotland). Above it, they gradually extend southward. A Kp of 9.5 gives a fair chance, 10.5 a strong one.

When is the best time to watch from Orléans?

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 Orléans offers better conditions?

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

Nearby cities

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