Aurora Borealis in Galway

Ireland · 53.27°, -9.05° · geomagnetic 56.5° · needs Kp 7

Tonight's aurora forecast for Galway

21%

Peak chance of a visible display tonight, from the same model the Revon app runs. Galway 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.

Tonight Tue 08 Sep
21%
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Updated 2026-09-08 10:36 UTC

Local aurora guide for Galway

Galway is located at 56.5° geomagnetic latitude. Auroras are typically visible at this latitude during periods of high geomagnetic activity, specifically when the Kp index reaches 7 or above.

On average, there are about 2.7 nights per year in Galway where conditions are suitable for aurora viewing, based on historical geomagnetic data.

The historical record for aurora sightings in this region spans from April 2, 2016, to March 30, 2026.

The best months for aurora viewing in Galway 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 May, June, and July, there is no full darkness due to the high latitude and time of year. This significantly reduces the chances of seeing the aurora during these summer months.

Galway experiences a Bortle 5 sky, indicating moderate light pollution. Areas with darker skies, such as Bortle 4, can be found approximately 20 km east near County Galway.

Closer to the city, pockets of Bortle 5 skies exist around 4 km south-east of Galway.

The horizon in Galway is varied, with features like Bushy Park to the north-west, Merlin Woods Park to the east-north-east, and Ballagh Hill to the west-north-west.

In the vicinity of Galway, several natural features offer potential vantage points. Bushy Park, a park located 3.5 km north-west of Galway, provides a nearby option.

Further east-north-east, Merlin Woods Park is situated 3.7 km away. To the west-north-west, Ballagh Hill is a geographical feature approximately 3.9 km from Galway.

For those willing to travel further, Ballycuirke Lough lies 9.3 km north-west, and Rabbit Island is located 9.8 km north-north-west of Galway.

Historical records show 63 verified aurora sightings within a 300 km radius of Galway between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2016.

The period from 2016 to 2026 has recorded several nights with significant geomagnetic activity, including Kp 7.0 on March 20, 2026, and Kp 7.67 on January 20, 2026.

Further notable nights include Kp 8.67 on January 19, 2026, Kp 7.33 on November 12, 2025, and Kp 8.67 on November 11, 2025.

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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Nearby towns

Forecasts for places within reach of Galway.