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Northern lights in Toulon tonight

Real-time aurora forecast for Toulon (PACA) - latitude 43.12° N, estimated Kp threshold 9.

Kp index
6.3
moderate
Hemispheric power
North35GW
South38GW

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

Seeing the northern lights from Toulon

Toulon, at 43.1° N, is one of the southernmost major French cities. Auroras here are exceptional: Kp ≥ 8 required. The harbour and the southern horizon over the Mediterranean don't help (auroras are sought to the north), but Mont Faron and the inland massifs offer elevated observation points.

Observation conditions in Toulon

Bortle 8 over the urban area. The Sainte-Baume massif (Bortle 4, 35 km north) and the Verdon gorges heights (Bortle 3, 80 km north) are the best spots. The Siou-Blanc plateau and Mont Caume offer clear northern horizons nearby. Frequent mistral winds clear the sky after they pass.

Recent auroras from Toulon

10-11 May 2024 (Kp 9): red aurora from the Sainte-Baume and the Var heights, the first naked-eye sighting in decades. No other notable recent events - the south-east requires major solar storms to see auroras.

Local conditions

Light pollution
Bortle 8 of 9
SQM 18.10 mag/arcsec²
Nearest darker sky
Faron
2 km · Bortle 4

Frequently asked questions

Can you see the northern lights from Toulon?
Yes, but rarely. Typically a Kp index of ≥ 9 is needed for the aurora to become visible from Toulon (latitude 43.1° 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 Toulon?
The approximate Kp threshold for Toulon 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 Toulon?
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 Toulon offers better conditions?
Move at least 40-60 km north of Toulon to escape urban light pollution and gain 1-2 magnitudes of limiting magnitude.

Nearby cities

PACA
Marseille
PACA
Nice
Occitanie
Montpellier
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