Aurora Borealis in Manchester
United Kingdom · 53.48°, -2.24° · geomagnetic 55.6° · needs Kp 7
Tonight's aurora forecast for Manchester
8%
Peak chance of a visible display tonight, from the same model the Revon app runs. Manchester 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 Manchester
Auroras are typically visible when the planetary Kp index reaches 7 or higher. At Manchester's geomagnetic latitude of 55.6°, this level of activity is infrequent.
On average, there are approximately 2.7 nights per year with conditions suitable for aurora viewing. Patience and persistence are key for observers in this region.
The best months for aurora viewing in Manchester are September, August, and November. These months offer a good balance of darkness and potential aurora activity.
However, from May to July, the region experiences periods without full darkness, which can significantly reduce the chances of seeing the aurora, regardless of geomagnetic activity.
Manchester has a Bortle scale rating of 8, indicating significant light pollution. This artificial light can obscure fainter aurora displays.
For clearer views, consider locations away from city lights. Areas with a Bortle rating of 4 are found approximately 58 km north near North Yorkshire.
Potential viewing spots with varied horizons include Heaton Park (6.7 km north), Clarke's Hill (9.1 km north-west), Hollingworth Lake (17.6 km north-north-east), Knowle Hill (18.6 km north), and Pennington Hall Park (19.1 km west).
Heaton Park, located 6.7 km north of Manchester, offers a hilly terrain that may provide elevated viewpoints.
Clarke's Hill, situated 9.1 km north-west of the city, is another hilly area that could be suitable for observation.
Further afield, Hollingworth Lake is 17.6 km north-north-east, Knowle Hill is 18.6 km north, and Pennington Hall Park is 19.1 km west of Manchester.
Records indicate approximately 2.7 aurora-viable nights per year in Manchester, based on data spanning from April 2, 2016, to March 30, 2026.
Historical reports show 146 verified sightings within a 300 km radius between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2016.
Notable qualifying nights in the historical record include March 20, 2026 (Kp 7.0), January 20, 2026 (Kp 7.67), January 19, 2026 (Kp 8.67), November 12, 2025 (Kp 7.33), and November 11, 2025 (Kp 8.67).
Sources: Revon analysis of NOAA planetary Kp · Revon location dataset · Solar declination and hour-angle calculation · Falchi 2016 World Atlas of artificial night sky brightness · GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) · Aurorasaurus verified positive reports
Know when it is worth going outside
Revon watches the Manchester forecast and pushes an alert when the odds for tonight clear your threshold — no checking, no guessing.
Nearby towns
Forecasts for places within reach of Manchester.