Threshold and odds
Kp 5+ minimum
Magnetic latitude: 58.4°
Strong activity helps. Coastlines and higher ground work well.
Unlikely
aurora visibility now
Local aurora guide for Oban
West coast harbor with island viewpoints and dark bays.
Good odds West Coast and Isles Local time 20:38
Tonight snapshot
- Cloud cover: 50%
- Sky darkness: Night
- Moon illumination: Unknown
- Best window: no strong window yet
Where to look from Oban
- Face north or north-east with an open horizon.
- Get 20-40 minutes away from city lights if possible.
- Coasts, lochs, and higher ground improve visibility.
Plan B in the UK
Higher odds to the north of Oban.
What affects visibility
Aurora Zone
Higher Aurora Zone = better aurora visibility. Your location's Aurora Zone determines how often auroras appear overhead.
Status Levels:
PerfectAbove 62.0° - Excellent aurora visibility (daily activity)
Good56.0° - 62.0° - Good aurora visibility (regular storms)
Acceptable50.0° - 56.0° - Fair aurora visibility (strong storms only)
LowBelow 50.0° - Poor aurora visibility (extreme storms)
Aurora Zone
Good 58.4°
Kp index
Kp measures global magnetic disturbance. Higher Kp = stronger auroras visible at lower latitudes.
Status Levels:
StormKp 6-9 - Geomagnetic storm, strong auroras
GoodKp 3-6 - Moderate activity, good conditions
LowKp 1-3 - Low activity, weak auroras
Very QuietKp 0-1 - Very quiet, minimal auroras
Kp index
— —
Cloud Cover Impact
Clear skies are essential for aurora viewing. Clouds block your view of the northern lights. The percentage shows cloud coverage (0-25% = clear, 85%+ = overcast).
Status Levels:
ClearClear (0-25%) - Perfect for aurora viewing
Partly CloudyPartly Cloudy (26-50%) - May partially block view
CloudyCloudy (51-85%) - Significantly blocks aurora
OvercastOvercast (85%+) - Blocks aurora completely
Cloud Cover Impact
⛅ Partly Cloudy
Moonlight
Bright moonlight can wash out faint auroras. New moon provides the darkest skies for optimal viewing.
Status Levels:
New MoonDarkest skies - Best for faint auroras
CrescentDim moonlight - Good for viewing
QuarterModerate moonlight - May wash out weak auroras
GibbousBright moonlight - Reduces aurora visibility
Full MoonVery bright - Only strong auroras visible
Moonlight
🌙 — —
Darkness
Darker skies are essential for aurora viewing. The sun must be below the horizon for auroras to be visible.
Status Levels:
NightDarkest conditions - Optimal for auroras
Astronomical TwilightDark enough - Good aurora viewing
Nautical TwilightGetting darker - Weak auroras may appear
DaylightSun is above horizon - No aurora visible
Darkness
Night
Forecast
Forecast data unavailable at the moment.
Time
Kp
Visibility
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Past 365 Days
Aurora Nights
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Local threshold
Kp ≥ 9.0
Best Season
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Seasonal Pattern
This calendar shows how often aurora was observed here by week across the year. Colors reflect historical intensity: greener months had more aurora nights, grey had little or none. Use it to plan trips around the strongest months, then confirm exact nights with the 72h forecast.
AuroraMe app
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Smart Alerts before spikes
Short-term outlook for the next few days
Multiple locations
Trip planner: month, year
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Scalloway
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Kirkwall
Orkney capital with St. Magnus Cathedral and aurora viewing over ancient stones
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Stromness
Historic Orkney port with cobbled streets and harbor aurora reflections
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Thurso
Northernmost mainland town with Caithness aurora viewing over Pentland Firth
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Wick
Caithness fishing port with lighthouse aurora photography and coastal viewing
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Ullapool
West Highland fishing village with aurora reflections over Loch Broom
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Stornoway
Outer Hebrides hub with dark Atlantic horizons.
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Portree
Isle of Skye capital with Trotternish Ridge aurora viewing and dramatic landscapes
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Inverness
Highland capital and gateway to Scotland's best aurora spots
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Fort William
Ben Nevis base town with Highland aurora viewing from UK's highest peak area
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Aviemore
Cairngorms base town with dark mountain skies.
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Aberdeen
Granite City with excellent northern Scotland aurora viewing
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Pitlochry
Perthshire town with forested dark-sky spots.
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Dundee
East coast city with views over the Tay estuary.
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Perth
Perthshire city with nearby rural dark skies.
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Edinburgh
Scotland's capital with northern lights visible from Arthur's Seat
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Glasgow
Scotland's largest city with aurora viewing from nearby highlands
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Stirling
Central Scotland city with hilltop viewpoints.
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Coleraine
Causeway Coast town with Giant's Causeway aurora photography opportunities
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Londonderry
Historic walled city with aurora viewing over River Foyle and city walls
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Berwick-upon-Tweed
Border fortress town with aurora viewing over Elizabethan ramparts and North Sea
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Belfast
Northern Ireland's capital with good aurora viewing potential
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Portrush
Causeway Coast resort with open northern horizon.
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Carlisle
Border city with Hadrian's Wall aurora viewing over Roman heritage sites
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Hexham
Market town near Hadrian's Wall with Northumberland Dark Sky aurora experiences
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Newcastle
Northeast England with better aurora chances than southern UK
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Durham
Cathedral city with nearby dark countryside.
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Enniskillen
Lakeland town with dark skies on Lough Erne.
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York
Historic city near North York Moors dark skies.
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Leeds
Yorkshire city with moorland dark-sky escapes.
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Hull
Humber estuary city with open eastern horizon.
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Manchester
Northern England city with occasional aurora sightings
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Liverpool
Mersey city with coastal viewing to the north.
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Sheffield
Peak District gateway with dark sky access.
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Llandudno
North Wales seaside town with open sea horizons.
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Caernarfon
Historic town near Snowdonia dark skies.
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Nottingham
Midlands city with rural dark-sky spots nearby.
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Leicester
Midlands city with accessible dark countryside.
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Norwich
East Anglia city with wide open horizons.
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Birmingham
Major city with 1M+ population
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Aberystwyth
West Wales coastal town with open horizons.
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Cambridge
University city with rural skies to the north.
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Oxford
Historic city with nearby dark countryside.
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Swansea
South Wales coast city with nearby dark bays.
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Bristol
West country city with dark-sky escapes nearby.
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Cardiff
Capital city with dark-sky escapes nearby.
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London
UK capital where rare aurora displays occur during extreme storms
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Southampton
Solent city with coastal viewpoints.
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Brighton
South coast city with sea horizon views.
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Portsmouth
Harbor city with open sea horizon.
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Exeter
Devon city with moorland skies nearby.
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Plymouth
South coast port with dark coastal viewpoints.
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Planning a trip? See the best months for Oban →
Northern Lights in Oban: Quick Guide
Minimum Kp Needed
5.0+
Viewing Frequency
occasional
Current Kp Index
0.0
How often can you see northern lights in Oban?
Based on its magnetic latitude of <strong>58.4°</strong>, aurora viewing in Oban is <strong>occasional (10-40 nights per year)</strong>. We are currently near solar maximum (2024-2025), so expect higher-than-average activity.
Best viewing season: September to March, with peak activity during equinoxes (September and March).
What Kp index do I need to see aurora in Oban?
For Oban, you need a minimum Kp index of <strong>5.0</strong> for aurora to be visible. This threshold is calculated based on the city's magnetic latitude (58.4°).
Higher Kp values produce brighter, more active displays:
- Kp 5.0-6.0: Faint aurora visible in dark skies
- Kp 6.0-7.0: Moderate aurora with dancing patterns
- Kp 7.0+: Strong, colorful displays visible even with some light pollution
Current Kp index: 0.0
Where should I look for aurora in Oban?
Watch the northern horizon. Aurora appears as green or red bands low on the horizon, occasionally rising higher during strong storms.
For best results, seek locations with minimal light pollution and unobstructed views of the sky. From Oban, aurora typically remains closer to the horizon, so elevated viewing locations help.
Can I see northern lights tonight in Oban?
Unlikely: Aurora unlikely tonight with Kp 0.0 (below 5.0 threshold for Oban). Enable alerts to catch future opportunities.
Real-time conditions: 50% cloud cover, aurora probability 0%. Check the live forecast above for the latest updates.
Data sourced from Met Office and UK Space Weather services.
Traveling? Track multiple locations easily
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