Tonight's stargazing conditions scored 0–100 for cities and dark-sky sites across the UK and Ireland — from London and Edinburgh to the Brecon Beacons and Galloway Forest. Find the clearest skies near you, then open the full forecast.
The UK and Ireland sit at northern latitudes that make for long, dark winter nights and genuine aurora prospects — but also frequent Atlantic cloud. ClearSkys scores every location below for tonight using cloud cover, moon phase, wind and humidity, so you can see at a glance where the sky is worth stepping out for. Cities like London, Birmingham and Manchester carry heavy light pollution, but most are within an hour of a designated Dark Sky Reserve or Park. Scotland and Northern Ireland, sitting above 54°N, regularly catch the northern lights during active geomagnetic periods.
The UK has several International Dark Sky Reserves and Parks with Bortle 2-3 conditions, including the Brecon Beacons, Exmoor, Galloway Forest (Scotland's first Dark Sky Park), Northumberland and the South Downs. Most are within an hour or two of a major city.
Yes — Scotland and Northern Ireland (above 54°N) catch the aurora regularly during Kp 4+ storms, and strong events are visible across northern England and Wales. The further north and the darker your northern horizon, the better your chances.
Autumn and winter (October-February) offer the longest, darkest nights and often the clearest skies during cold high-pressure systems. UK summer nights barely reach astronomical darkness at these latitudes.