Higher Kp pushes the auroral oval toward lower latitudes, but local darkness still matters.
Aurora watch
Know when the northern lights are worth chasing.
Stella reads NOAA SWPC planetary K-index data, shows the current storm level, and turns the forecast into an alert-worthy planning signal for dark horizons.
Current Kp2.3Quiet
High latitudes only - the Arctic, Scandinavia, and Alaska.
NOAA SWPC snapshot updated 2026-08-18 13:33 UTCNext 24 hoursKp 4.7 - Wed, Aug 19, 10:00 AM UTC
Alert triggerKp 5+ is the first practical mid-latitude watch line.
Get aurora alertsThe page is a build snapshot. Stella can turn Kp changes into location-aware push alerts with weather and darkness context.
Even active storms need a clear, dark northern horizon and eyes adjusted for faint glow.
Pair space weather with clouds, moonlight, and nearby dark-sky options before driving out.
Next steps
Turn the aurora watch into a field plan.
Pair Kp activity with tonight's darkness, dark-sky stays, and practical aurora guidance.
Tonight plannerCheck the actual sky
Score moonlight, darkness, and nearby dark-sky quality before driving out.
Open routeBest nightsSave the dark windowsDownload New Moon weekends, meteor peaks, and eclipses as a planning calendar.
Open routeAurora staysBrowse northern dark-sky basesOpen Canada and Europe aurora lodge collections built for sky-first travel.
Open routeGuideRead the aurora primerUnderstand Kp, timing, poleward horizons, and what makes aurora visible.
Open route