Aurora Forecast Tonight in Mannheim

Mannheim: the aurora season runs September to April.

Tonight's Forecast

Low

How we calculate the aurora score

Low

We combine geomagnetic activity (Kp), aurora oval probability (OVATION), cloud cover, darkness and moonlight, weighted for Mannheim (region: low_latitude).

With current Kp 5.0 (location needs ≥ 7) and 0% cloud cover, only a faint aurora is possible at Mannheim, and only under otherwise perfect conditions.

Unlikely 0-19

Score 0–19. Conditions strongly limit aurora visibility.

Low 20-44

Score 20–44. A faint aurora is possible only under perfect conditions.

Moderate 45-64

Score 45–64. Aurora may be visible to alert observers in dark, clear skies.

High 65-84

Score 65–84. A good chance of a visible aurora display.

Very High 85-100

Score 85–100. Excellent odds — plan to be outside tonight.

Low chance tonight. Aurora may be possible only under very favorable local conditions.

Aurora Score 36 /100

Skies may be clear in Mannheim, but aurora activity is currently too weak for a good viewing chance.

With current Kp 5.0 (location needs ≥ 7) and 0% cloud cover, only a faint aurora is possible at Mannheim, and only under otherwise perfect conditions.

Max Kp

Below threshold

Kp is below the minimum needed at this latitude.

5.0

Below threshold

Cloud Cover

Clear skies

Up to 25% cloud — excellent visibility.

Clear skies

Moon

Bright moon

Over 75% illuminated — only strong displays will be visible.

77%

Bright moon

OVATION

Low

Less than 5% probability — aurora unlikely to reach this location.

Low

🕐

Best Viewing Window

10:00 PM – 2:00 AM

Best balance of darkness, geomagnetic activity and local sky conditions.

🧭

Direction to Look

North

Min Kp 7 Lat 49.5°

This location is farther from the auroral oval, so aurora is most likely to appear low on the northern horizon during strong activity.

Recommendation

Check the forecast again later. Aurora conditions can change quickly during geomagnetic activity.

Hour-by-hour visibility

Estimated aurora visibility score for each hour of tonight at Mannheim.

10:00 PM

36/100

10:00 PM: 36/100 — low

Max Kp

3.7

Cloud Cover

Moon

77%

OVATION

11:00 PM

36/100

11:00 PM: 36/100 — low

Max Kp

3.7

Cloud Cover

Moon

77%

OVATION

12:00 AM

36/100

12:00 AM: 36/100 — low

Max Kp

5.0

Cloud Cover

Moon

77%

OVATION

1:00 AM

36/100

1:00 AM: 36/100 — low

Max Kp

5.0

Cloud Cover

Moon

77%

OVATION

2:00 AM

36/100

2:00 AM: 36/100 — low

Max Kp

5.0

Cloud Cover

Moon

77%

OVATION

3:00 AM

36/100

3:00 AM: 36/100 — low

Max Kp

4.7

Cloud Cover

Moon

77%

OVATION

10:00 PM

11:00 PM

12:00 AM

1:00 AM

2:00 AM

3:00 AM

Best viewing window: 10:00 PM – 2:00 AM. Peak around 10:00 PM with a visibility score of 36/100.

Why this forecast?

There is a low chance of visible aurora tonight. Some conditions may help, but overall the forecast does not strongly support visibility.

Score breakdown

How tonight's aurora score for Mannheim breaks down into activity and visibility components.

Geomagnetic activity

0 / 45

Geomagnetic activity (Kp 5.0) contribution to the score.

0 / 45

Aurora oval probability

0 / 15

OVATION aurora oval probability (0%) contribution.

0 / 15

Cloud cover

20 / 20

Cloud cover (0%) contribution — clear skies score full points.

20 / 20

Darkness

15 / 15

Sky darkness contribution — astronomical darkness scores full points.

15 / 15

Moonlight

1 / 5

Moon illumination (77%) contribution — new moon scores full points.

1 / 5

Aurora zone

-5 pts

Latitude/zone bonus for Mannheim.

-5 pts

Aurora activity 0 / 100

Sky visibility 90 / 100

Final score 36 / 100

Geomagnetic activity 5.0 / 7

Geomagnetic activity (Kp index)

Below threshold

Kp measures how disturbed Earth's magnetic field is on a 0–9 scale. Higher Kp pushes the aurora oval toward the equator. Mannheim needs Kp ≥ 7.

Below threshold

Kp is below the minimum needed at this latitude.

Near threshold

Kp is close to the minimum needed — a faint aurora may appear low on the horizon.

Enough for this location

Kp meets the threshold for visible aurora here.

Strong for this location

Kp is comfortably above the local threshold.

Geomagnetic storm

Storm-level Kp ≥ 5 — aurora can be seen far south of its usual zone.

Below threshold

Geomagnetic activity is below the usual visibility threshold for Mannheim: expected Kp is 5.0, while this location usually needs around 7.

✓

Cloud cover 0%

Cloud cover

Clear skies

Average cloud cover during the best viewing window. Clear skies are essential — even thin overcast hides the aurora.

Clear skies

Up to 25% cloud — excellent visibility.

Partly cloudy

25–50% cloud — aurora may peek through gaps.

Cloudy

50–85% cloud — most of the sky is blocked.

Overcast

Over 85% cloud — aurora effectively hidden.

Clear skies

Skies are mostly clear, which is favorable for seeing the aurora.

✓

Darkness astronomical

Sky darkness

Astronomical darkness

Aurora is faint and needs a dark sky. Astronomical darkness (sun more than 18° below horizon) is ideal.

No dark window

Sun stays above 6° below horizon all night — no aurora-friendly darkness.

Civil twilight

Sun 6–12° below horizon — too bright for faint aurora.

Nautical twilight

Sun 12–18° below horizon — sky is dark but not fully astronomical.

Astronomical darkness

Sun more than 18° below the horizon — fully dark sky.

Astronomical darkness

The sky reaches full astronomical darkness tonight — the sun more than 18° below the horizon, dark enough for even a faint aurora.

Moonlight 77%

Moon illumination

Bright moon

A bright moon washes out faint aurora colours. New moon is ideal; full moon hides everything but the strongest displays.

Dark moon

Less than 25% illuminated — minimal interference.

Moderate moonlight

25–75% illuminated — faint aurora may be washed out.

Bright moon

Over 75% illuminated — only strong displays will be visible.

Bright moon

Moon is 77% illuminated — expect washed-out faint aurora.

Aurora oval probability 0%

Aurora oval probability (OVATION)

Low

NOAA's OVATION model estimates the chance of aurora visible overhead within a 250 km radius of you.

Low

Less than 5% probability — aurora unlikely to reach this location.

Moderate

5–20% probability — aurora possible.

Elevated

20–40% probability — aurora likely if skies are clear.

High

Over 40% probability — aurora very likely overhead.

Low

The aurora oval probability is low for this location tonight.

Aurora zone Low zone

Aurora zone

Low zone

How favourable Mannheim's latitude is for aurora viewing in general — independent of tonight's conditions.

Low zone

Lower latitude — aurora is rare and requires a major storm.

Fair zone

Mid-latitude — aurora visible only during moderate-to-strong storms.

Good zone

High-latitude region — aurora is visible on most active nights.

Excellent zone

Directly under the auroral oval — aurora is a regular occurrence.

Low zone

Mannheim is outside the main aurora zone, so visible aurora usually requires a strong geomagnetic storm.

Data sources

How this forecast works

3-Day Aurora Forecast for Mannheim

Tonight

Low

Max Kp5.0

Cloud Cover0%

Moon77%

10:00 PM–2:00 AM

Tomorrow night

Unlikely

Max Kp4.7

Cloud Cover72%

Moon66%

1:00 AM–3:00 AM

In 2 nights

Unlikely

Max Kp3.7

Cloud Cover80%

10:00 PM–12:00 AM

Aurora Forecast AI Tracker

Get aurora alerts for Mannheim

Save Mannheim in Aurora Forecast AI Tracker to follow the local Northern Lights forecast, hourly aurora visibility and best viewing window. Get notified when Kp activity, darkness and cloud cover create better chances to see the aurora.

Smart aurora alerts
Best viewing window
Hourly forecast
Saved locations

Best Months to See the Northern Lights in Mannheim

Best: September to April Peak: January, February and December

September October November December January February March April

The aurora season in Mannheim usually runs from September to April.

Hours of darkness in Mannheim

Dark hours per night
January	February	March	April	May	June	July	August	September	October	November	December
11.7	10.2	8.7	6.2	3.3	0.0	1.7	5.2	7.7	9.7	11.2	11.8

No astronomical darkness: 5 June – 8 July

Other aurora viewing spots near Mannheim

🇩🇪

Ludwigshafen am Rhein

Rhineland-Palatinate

🇩🇪

Karlsruhe

Baden-Württemberg

🇩🇪

Mainz

Rhineland-Palatinate

🇩🇪

Frankfurt

Hesse

🇩🇪

Homburg

Saarland

🇩🇪

Stuttgart

Baden-Württemberg

🇩🇪

Nohfelden

Saarland

🇩🇪

Saarbrücken

Saarland

🇩🇪

Würzburg

Bavaria

🇫🇷

Strasbourg

Grand Est

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you see the Northern Lights in Mannheim tonight?

Rarely. Mannheim is far enough from the pole that it takes Kp 7 or more, storm levels, before the ring stretches this far. When it does, expect a faint glow low on the northern horizon rather than anything overhead — and a clear sky, or none of it matters.

What Kp index is needed to see the Northern Lights in Mannheim?

Aurora is rare this far from the pole. Mannheim sits at 45.2° geomagnetic latitude, about 21° south of the quiet oval, and needs Kp 7 or more before the ring stretches far enough — storm levels, not an ordinary night. When it does happen it is usually a faint glow low in the north, often clearer in a photograph than to the eye.

What are the best months to see the Northern Lights in Mannheim?

The best months to see the Northern Lights in Mannheim are typically September to April, when nights are darker and aurora viewing conditions are better.

Where is the best place to see the Northern Lights in Mannheim?

Mannheim is large enough that its own sky-glow is the main obstacle, so plan on leaving it. Head out away from the lit side until the glow is behind you, and find an open view toward the north — a lake shore, a ridge, anywhere the horizon is not built up. Let your eyes adjust for 20–30 minutes once you are there, and keep the phone screen off.