Aurora Borealis in Derby
United Kingdom · 52.92°, -1.48° · geomagnetic 55.0° · needs Kp 7
Tonight's aurora forecast for Derby
3%
Peak chance of a visible display tonight, from the same model the Revon app runs. Derby 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.
Get the full 30-night forecast in Revon
Updated 2026-09-08 10:36 UTC
Local aurora guide for Derby
Derby is at a geomagnetic latitude of 55.0 degrees.
Auroras are typically visible at this latitude when the Kp index reaches 7.
On average, there are 2.7 nights per year when these conditions are met.
The best months for aurora viewing in Derby are September, August, and November.
During June and July, there is no full darkness, which can impact viewing conditions.
Derby has a Bortle scale rating of 7, indicating significant light pollution.
Areas with darker skies, such as Bortle 4 conditions, are located 118 km east near King's Lynn and West Norfolk.
Bortle 5 conditions can be found 68 km east-south-east near South Kesteven.
Holme Nook, an island located 3.1 km north of Derby, offers a potential viewpoint.
Allestree Park, a hill 4.5 km north-north-west of Derby, is another nearby area.
Locko Park, a park situated 5.8 km east-north-east of Derby, and Breadsall Moor, a hill 6.3 km north-north-east of Derby, are also noted.
Between 2016 and 2026, there have been approximately 2.7 nights per year suitable for aurora viewing in Derby.
The period from 2016 to 2026 has recorded several nights with significant geomagnetic activity, including Kp 7.0 on March 20, 2026, and Kp 8.67 on January 19, 2026.
Sources: 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)
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Nearby towns
Forecasts for places within reach of Derby.