Aurora Borealis in Chippenham
United Kingdom · 51.46°, -2.12° · geomagnetic 53.7° · needs Kp 7
Tonight's aurora forecast for Chippenham
1%
Peak chance of a visible display tonight, from the same model the Revon app runs. Chippenham needs Kp 7 to see anything at all, and tonight the forecast peaks at Kp 4.9. Short of the threshold, which is what most nights look like here.
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Updated 2026-09-08 10:36 UTC
Local aurora guide for Chippenham
Chippenham is located at 53.7° geomagnetic latitude. Auroras are typically visible at this latitude during periods of strong geomagnetic activity, specifically when the Kp index reaches 7 or higher.
Based on historical data from 2016 to 2026, there are approximately 2.7 nights per year in Chippenham where conditions might be suitable for viewing an aurora.
This suggests that while auroras are possible, they are not a frequent occurrence and require patience and favorable conditions.
The best months for aurora viewing in Chippenham are September, August, and November. These months offer a good balance of darkness and potential aurora activity.
However, it is important to note that during June and July, there is no full darkness due to the high latitude and time of year. This significantly reduces the chances of seeing an aurora during these summer months.
Chippenham experiences a Bortle 7 light pollution level, indicating significant artificial light. This can make faint auroras difficult to observe.
Areas with darker skies, such as Bortle 4 skies near Powys (98 km north-west) or Bortle 5 skies near Wiltshire (10 km west-north-west), offer better viewing conditions.
Several elevated locations like Avon Grove Hill (9.0 km east-north-east) and Great Wood Hill (13.8 km north-east) provide potential vantage points with clearer horizons.
For those seeking vantage points, Avon Grove Hill is a hill located 9.0 km east-north-east of Chippenham.
Great Wood Hill, another hill, is situated 13.8 km north-east of Chippenham.
Friday Island, an island, lies 23.4 km north-north-east of Chippenham, while Aztec West park is 32.0 km west-north-west, and Alice Park is 16.4 km west-south-west.
Historical records show 60 verified aurora reports within a 300 km radius of Chippenham between January 2015 and December 2016.
The period between 2016 and 2026 includes several nights with significant geomagnetic activity. Notable qualifying nights include 2026-03-20 (Kp 7.0), 2026-01-20 (Kp 7.67), and 2026-01-19 (Kp 8.67).
Further qualifying nights within this span were recorded on 2025-11-12 (Kp 7.33) and 2025-11-11 (Kp 8.67), indicating periods of heightened aurora potential.
Sources: Revon location dataset · Revon analysis of NOAA planetary Kp · Solar declination and hour-angle calculation · Falchi 2016 World Atlas of artificial night sky brightness · GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) · Aurorasaurus verified positive reports
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