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Normandie

Northern lights in Rouen tonight

Real-time aurora forecast for Rouen (Normandie) - latitude 49.44° N, estimated Kp threshold 7.8.

Kp index
6.3
moderate
Hemispheric power
North36GW
South38GW

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

Seeing the northern lights from Rouen

Rouen, at 49.4° N, in the Seine valley, watches a northern horizon partly blocked by the Bois-Guillaume hills. Auroras become visible from Kp 6.5-7. Heading to the heights or surrounding countryside is essential. May 2024 produced auroras observable from the Bonsecours heights and the Pays de Bray.

Observation conditions in Rouen

Bortle 8 over Rouen, with light pollution stretched along the Rouen-Le Havre axis. The Pays de Bray (Bortle 5, 50 km east) and the Eawy forest (Bortle 4, 60 km north) are the best observation points. The northern Seine slopes provide an open horizon. Norman weather demands careful cloud-cover monitoring.

Recent auroras from Rouen

10-11 May 2024 (Kp 9): red aurora visible from the heights north of Rouen, photographed by Ouest-France. 24 March 2024 (Kp 8): sightings from the Pays de Bray. 5 November 2023 (Kp 7): rural observations.

Local conditions

Light pollution
Bortle 7 of 9
SQM 18.84 mag/arcsec²
Nearest darker sky
Rouen
2 km · Bortle 3

Frequently asked questions

Can you see the northern lights from Rouen?
Yes, but rarely. Typically a Kp index of ≥ 7.8 is needed for the aurora to become visible from Rouen (latitude 49.4° 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 Rouen?
The approximate Kp threshold for Rouen is 7.8. Below that, auroras stay confined to high latitudes (Norway, Scotland). Above it, they gradually extend southward. A Kp of 8.8 gives a fair chance, 9.8 a strong one.
When is the best time to watch from Rouen?
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 Rouen offers better conditions?
Move at least 40-60 km north of Rouen to escape urban light pollution and gain 1-2 magnitudes of limiting magnitude.

Nearby cities

Normandie
Le Havre
Normandie
Caen
Hauts-de-France
Amiens
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