Aurora Forecast Tonight in Atka
Aurora season in Atka runs from August to April.
Tonight's Forecast
Low
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How we calculate the aurora score
LowWe combine geomagnetic activity (Kp), aurora oval probability (OVATION), cloud cover, darkness and moonlight, weighted for Atka (region: auroral_oval).
Score 0–19. Conditions strongly limit aurora visibility.
Score 20–44. A faint aurora is possible only under perfect conditions.
Score 45–64. Aurora may be visible to alert observers in dark, clear skies.
Score 65–84. A good chance of a visible aurora display.
Score 85–100. Excellent odds — plan to be outside tonight.
Low chance tonight. Aurora may be possible only under very favorable local conditions.
Aurora activity may be favorable near Atka, but cloud cover could make the Northern Lights difficult or impossible to see.
Max Kp
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Max Kp
Enough for this locationKp meets the threshold for visible aurora here.
1.7
Enough for this location
Cloud Cover
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Cloud Cover
Cloudy50–85% cloud — most of the sky is blocked.
56%
Cloudy
Moon
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Moon
Moderate moonlight25–75% illuminated — faint aurora may be washed out.
60%
Moderate moonlight
OVATION
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OVATION
LowLess than 5% probability — aurora unlikely to reach this location.
0%
Low
Best Viewing Window
2:00 AM – 4:00 AM
Best balance of darkness, geomagnetic activity and local sky conditions.
Direction to Look
Overhead or north
This location is close to the auroral oval, so aurora may appear overhead during stronger activity.
Recommendation
Cloud cover is the main problem tonight. Wait for breaks in the clouds before going out.
Hour-by-hour visibility
Estimated aurora visibility score for each hour of tonight at Atka.
1:00 AM
31/100Max Kp
1.3
Cloud Cover
97%
Moon
60%
OVATION
0%
39
2:00 AM
39/100Max Kp
1.0
Cloud Cover
41%
Moon
60%
OVATION
0%
33
3:00 AM
33/100Max Kp
1.0
Cloud Cover
71%
Moon
60%
OVATION
0%
4:00 AM
35/100Max Kp
1.0
Cloud Cover
58%
Moon
60%
OVATION
0%
Best viewing window: 2:00 AM – 4:00 AM. Peak around 2:00 AM with a visibility score of 39/100.
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 Atka breaks down into activity and visibility components.
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Geomagnetic activity
17 / 30Geomagnetic activity (Kp 1.7) contribution to the score.
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Aurora oval probability
0 / 30OVATION aurora oval probability (0%) contribution.
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Cloud cover
6 / 20Cloud cover (68%) contribution — clear skies score full points.
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Darkness
15 / 15Sky darkness contribution — astronomical darkness scores full points.
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Moonlight
2 / 5Moon illumination (60%) contribution — new moon scores full points.
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Aurora zone
+10 ptsLatitude/zone bonus for Atka.
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Geomagnetic activity (Kp index)
Enough for this locationKp measures how disturbed Earth's magnetic field is on a 0–9 scale. Higher Kp pushes the aurora oval toward the equator. Atka needs Kp ≥ 1.5.
Kp is below the minimum needed at this latitude.
Kp is close to the minimum needed — a faint aurora may appear low on the horizon.
Kp meets the threshold for visible aurora here.
Kp is comfortably above the local threshold.
Storm-level Kp ≥ 5 — aurora can be seen far south of its usual zone.
Enough for this location
Geomagnetic activity is only marginal for Atka: expected Kp is 1.7, while this location usually needs around 1.5.
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Cloud cover
CloudyAverage cloud cover during the best viewing window. Clear skies are essential — even thin overcast hides the aurora.
Up to 25% cloud — excellent visibility.
25–50% cloud — aurora may peek through gaps.
50–85% cloud — most of the sky is blocked.
Over 85% cloud — aurora effectively hidden.
Cloudy
Cloud cover is high tonight, which can block the view even if aurora activity is present.
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Sky darkness
Astronomical darknessAurora is faint and needs a dark sky. Astronomical darkness (sun more than 18° below horizon) is ideal.
Sun stays above 6° below horizon all night — no aurora-friendly darkness.
Sun 6–12° below horizon — too bright for faint aurora.
Sun 12–18° below horizon — sky is dark but not fully astronomical.
Sun more than 18° below the horizon — fully dark sky.
Astronomical darkness
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Moon illumination
Moderate moonlightA bright moon washes out faint aurora colours. New moon is ideal; full moon hides everything but the strongest displays.
Less than 25% illuminated — minimal interference.
25–75% illuminated — faint aurora may be washed out.
Over 75% illuminated — only strong displays will be visible.
Moderate moonlight
Moonlight is moderate tonight and may slightly reduce aurora visibility.
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Aurora oval probability (OVATION)
LowNOAA's OVATION model estimates the chance of aurora visible overhead within a 250 km radius of you.
Less than 5% probability — aurora unlikely to reach this location.
5–20% probability — aurora possible.
20–40% probability — aurora likely if skies are clear.
Over 40% probability — aurora very likely overhead.
Low
The aurora oval probability is low for this location tonight.
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Aurora zone
Excellent zoneHow favourable Atka's latitude is for aurora viewing in general — independent of tonight's conditions.
Lower latitude — aurora is rare and requires a major storm.
Mid-latitude — aurora visible only during moderate-to-strong storms.
High-latitude region — aurora is visible on most active nights.
Directly under the auroral oval — aurora is a regular occurrence.
Excellent zone
Atka is in a prime aurora zone, so aurora can be visible during regular activity when skies are dark and clear.
Data sources
- · NOAA SWPC Kp forecast
- · NOAA OVATION aurora model
- · Open-Meteo cloud forecast
Aurora Forecast AI Tracker
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Best Months to See the Northern Lights in Atka
The aurora season in Atka usually runs from August to April.
Atka is located in the auroral oval region, which means auroras can often become visible when the Kp index reaches around 1.5 or higher. The best chances usually come during the darkest months of the season, with clear skies and low light pollution.