# Northern lights in Russia tonight and this season

> Aurora probability over Murmansk right now from NOAA, the Kp the place in Russia needs by geomagnetic latitude, the season and 0 guided tours.

Canonical: https://kpforecast.com/russia/
Updated on: 2026-10-09

Live aurora odds for 1 place in Russia, the Kp each one needs, the season, and the guided tours that pass the catalogue filter. Data: NOAA SWPC, refreshed every 15 minutes.

## In short

Northern lights in Russia need Kp 1 or more at Murmansk, the best placed of the 1 spot on this page by geomagnetic latitude (64.9°). The aurora season in Russia runs from late August to mid April, when nights are long enough, and the darkest months are November to February. The probability over each place right now comes from the NOAA OVATION model and refreshes every 15 minutes, with the time of the last fetch shown under each figure.

## Key points

- Kp needed: 1 at Murmansk, by geomagnetic latitude
- 1 place in Russia with a live OVATION probability on this page
- Aurora probability over Murmansk refreshes every 15 minutes with the fetch time shown
- No guided aurora tour in the catalogue passes the filter yet
- Kp forecast for the next 3 days in 3-hour slots, from NOAA SWPC

## Aurora over Murmansk right now

Live figures on the web page, refreshed every 15 minutes.

## Why Russia for the northern lights

Murmansk is the largest city north of the Arctic Circle and sits under the oval, with the Teriberka coast on the Barents Sea as the classic viewing spot. Entry rules for many visitors have changed in recent years, so the page keeps to the data and leaves planning to the reader.

## The Kp each place in Russia needs

The table ranks the places in Russia by geomagnetic latitude, which is what decides how strong a storm has to be before the auroral oval reaches them. NOAA puts the edge of the oval at about 66 degrees geomagnetic for Kp 0 and moves it 2 degrees toward the equator per Kp level. The full method, including why the figure is conservative, is on the [data and method page](https://kpforecast.com/data-and-method/).

## Kp forecast for the next 3 days

Live figures on the web page, refreshed every 15 minutes.

## When to see the northern lights in Russia

The aurora season in Russia runs from late August to mid April, when nights are long enough, and the darkest months are November to February. In Murmansk the sun stays below the horizon for weeks around the winter solstice, so the aurora can show in the afternoon. No aurora is visible during the midnight sun weeks.

## Northern lights tours in Russia

No guided aurora tour in Russia passes the catalogue filter of at least 4.3 stars and 20 reviews on the booking site right now, so this page shows the live odds and the Kp needed instead.

## Places in Russia for the northern lights, by geomagnetic latitude

| Place | Latitude | Geomagnetic latitude | Kp needed | Tours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Murmansk | 69.0° N | 64.9° | 1 | 0 |

## Frequently asked questions

### Can you see the northern lights in Russia?

Yes, when the Kp index reaches the level a place needs and the sky is dark and clear. Murmansk needs Kp 1 or more by the NOAA rule used on this site, and Murmansk needs Kp 1. The live probability for each place in Russia is on this page and refreshes every 15 minutes.

### What Kp index do you need for the northern lights in Russia?

Kp 1 or more at every place on this page. The figure comes from geomagnetic latitude: NOAA puts the edge of the auroral oval at about 66 degrees for Kp 0 and moves it 2 degrees toward the equator per Kp level, and it is conservative, because NOAA also notes that aurora is often visible hundreds of kilometres equatorward of that edge. The data and method page explains the calculation and its limits.

### When is the best time to see the northern lights in Russia?

The aurora season in Russia runs from late August to mid April, when nights are long enough, and the darkest months are November to February. Clear, dark nights matter as much as the Kp, so the cloud forecast for the dates decides the real view.

### Which place in Russia has the best aurora odds tonight?

The cards on this page rank the 1 place in Russia by the NOAA OVATION probability for the current forecast hour. All of them need the same Kp, so the OVATION figure and the local cloud decide, and the cards refresh every 15 minutes.

### Are there guided northern lights tours in Russia?

No guided aurora tour in Russia passes the catalogue filter of at least 4.3 stars and 20 reviews on the booking site right now. The page shows the live odds and the Kp needed so a visit can still be timed with the forecast.

### Does Russia have polar night or midnight sun?

Yes. Murmansk lies north of the Arctic Circle, so the sun stays below the horizon for part of the winter and above it for part of the summer. No aurora is visible during the midnight sun weeks, and in the polar night it can appear in the afternoon.

## Sources

- [NOAA SWPC, tips on viewing the aurora](https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/content/tips-viewing-aurora), checked on 2026-10-09
- [NOAA NCEI, World Magnetic Model 2025, geomagnetic pole](https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/products/world-magnetic-model), checked on 2026-10-09
- [NOAA SWPC, OVATION aurora forecast model](https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/aurora-30-minute-forecast), checked on 2026-10-09