G4Peak 15 May 2005 at 06:00 UTC

Northern Lights on 15 May 2005 (Kp 8.3): Where They Were Visible

Kp reached 8.3. At that level the edge of the auroral oval reaches about 49.8° magnetic latitude, so the aurora could be seen low on the horizon down to roughly 45.3°. Activity stayed at storm level (Kp 5 or more) for 12 hours.

Kp 0–3 Kp 4 Kp 5–6 (G1–G2) Kp 7+ (G3+) Times in UTC; faded bars are forecasts.

Three-hourly Kp from GFZ, one day either side of the storm.

Where the aurora could be seen

5,589 towns on our list had enough activity while it was dark there. Cloud cover is not included.

Based on each place's Kp threshold (terrain included) and the Sun's position during each 3-hour Kp block.
Country	Places	Examples	Furthest from the pole
United States	3,817	New York City, Brooklyn, Chicago, Queens	Virginia Beach
Canada	925	Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, Ottawa	Yarmouth
United Kingdom	419	Glasgow, Edinburgh, Belfast, Newcastle upon Tyne	Middlesbrough
Denmark	254	Copenhagen, Aarhus, Odense, Aalborg	Nakskov
Sweden	61	Malmö, Helsingborg, Lund, Kristianstad	Trelleborg
New Zealand	54	Christchurch, Wellington, Dunedin, Lower Hutt	Whanganui
Australia	28	Melbourne, Geelong, Hobart, Ballarat	Ballarat
Norway	22	Kristiansand, Sandnes, Solakrossen, Time	Mandal
Ireland	6	Letterkenny, Sligo, Buncrana, Ballybofey	Sligo
Germany	2	Westerland, Glücksburg	Glücksburg
Greenland	1	Nanortalik	Nanortalik

Only in photos

2,945 more towns could have caught a faint red or green glow low on the horizon with a phone or camera.

Whether the aurora was actually seen also depended on the weather. Use this as a guide to where it was possible.

← 8 May 2005 · 16 May 2005 →