UPDATE @ 19:50 BST / 18:50 UT - 09/06/2026: There was a small jump in the strength of the IMF at around 10:00 UT, it is possible this may have been the anticipated CME arriving.
Doesn't look like much came from this jump in IMF. 😭
At least a lot of us got to see some Noctilucent Clouds instead though! Well done to everyone who caught some last night!
It just goes to show even when we get forecasts of G3 level geomagnetic storms, you can never be sure of anything.
IMF strength does seem to be holding at slightly elevated levels and polarity is staying South, so maybe we could see some activity tonight if things hold like this.
Looks like the next chance we will have of seeing aurora will be when the High Speed Stream from Coronal Hole 63 arrives. This high speed stream is predicted to arrive at Earth at some point on the 11th of June.
We will make sure to keep you updated closer to then and if we have any developments.
UPDATE @ 03:52 BST / 02:52 UT - 09/06/2026: Just came back from being out all night. Still no signs of any CME. Starting to think that it may have missed Earth unfortunately. Second Huxt model from yesterday suggests arrival may be a little later though, so maybe something could arrive for those in America. We have our fingers crossed for those of you across the pond!
Saw some Noctilucent Clouds though! Lots of reports and photographs of NLC across the UK tonight.
UPDATE @ 23:25 BST / 22:25 UT - 08/06/2026: Shortly after publishing this post NOAA have now cancelled their G3-G2 storm watch.
This doesn't mean we definitely won't see anything, this is just NOAA confirming their earlier predictions were incorrect.
We will be heading out shortly and will keep an eye on the skies and stats and make sure to keep you updated.
We will update this blog post if there are any developments but our Facebook and WhatsApp group is best for our updates. Please follow our Facebook or join our WhatsApp group for updates as soon they happen.
Aurora Alert – 8th June 2026 | Potential for Aurora Tonight
💚💜💙⭐ Quick solar report and aurora alert as of 22:30 BST, 8th June 2026.
- 💚 Potential for aurora tonight!
- 💚 G3-G2 geomagnetic storm watches still in place for 8th-9th June
- 💚 Potential for further activity due to approaching coronal hole and multiple sunspot regions
Hi everyone, another quick summary. We are still awaiting signs of arrival from the anticipated CME that occurred on the 6th of June.
It's another will it or won't it situation again. Will it arrive in time for hours of darkness, or will it even arrive at all?
NEW HUXT MODELS
After a bit of a delay the University of Reading have released their HUXT model predictions, which have been quite different to NASA and NOAA and point to an arrival at some time between midnight and 3am UT.
One model was released at 12:00 UT which suggested a median estimated arrival time of 23:51 UT 08/06/2026 (00:51 BST 09/06/2026).
Another updated model was released at 18:00 UT which suggested a median estimated arrival time of 03:01 UT 09/06/2026 (04:01 BST).
Both models have a 97% confidence of a hit but show it will be more of a flanking blow rather than a direct hit.
G3-G2 GEOMAGNETIC STORM WATCHES STILL IN PLACE
NOAA's G3-G2 geomagnetic storm watches are still in place for 8th-9th of June, so no changes here.
OTHER SOLAR ACTIVITY
As a side note, we still have quite a few sunspot regions on the Earth facing side of the Sun and a fairly large centrally located coronal hole that getting closer to being an Earth directed position. This solar activity could lead to further aurora activity in the near future too! We'll keep you updated if and when there are any developments.
CURRENT STATS
22:30 BST – at the moment, nothing particularly noteworthy with regards to the stats.
Solar wind speeds are at slightly elevated levels fluctuating around an average of 440 km/s.
Apart from this, things are pretty normal.
MANAGING EXPECTATIONS
As always, it is worth keeping in mind that even though we have been forecast G3-G2 geomagnetic storms, things sometimes end up different to the forecasts.
The particles from the solar wind can fizzle out, they can miss us all together, they can arrive during our hours of daylight, and they can arrive with the wrong polarity and not interact with our magnetic field.
Just like the last lot of CMEs showed us, a lot of things have to fall into place just right to accumulate in an aurora display.
There is also the Earth weather and the Moon to consider as well, plus at this time of year any auroral activity must also be strong enough to cut through the endless twilight.
EARTH WEATHER
Looking at current weather forecasts it seems that tonight (Monday the 8th), is looking much better than last night.
East coast will be best. Clear skies forecast for most of the night towards the East, with the Yorkshire coast and further south looking best.
There is quite a bit of cloud and rain coming in from the West which will be affecting most of the West of the UK unfortunately.
However, as we all know, Earth weather forecasts are never 100% accurate and things can and do change, so it's worth heading out and checking your local skies in person.
LUNAR CONDITIONS
Fortunately the Moon will be less of a problem for us tonight, due to the Moon rising later.
Tonight the Moon won't be rising until roughly 01:33 BST in the early morning of the 9th.
This means that the Moon won't be about during the time of our darkest skies, and rises when the skies start to become brighter due to the dawn twilight.
ENDLESS TWILIGHT
At this time of year, due to the Earth's tilt and the Northern Hemisphere being tilted towards the Sun, we are experiencing endless summer twilight — the skies never reach true darkness, which makes it harder to catch an aurora display.
All of this being said, if the aurora is strong enough it can outshine the Moon and twilight, just like the incredible display we experienced in June last year.
SOUTH IS BETTER?
Counter-intuitively to normal circumstances where being further North is best for aurora chasing due to being closer to the auroral oval, at this time of year those who are further South may actually have a better chance of catching aurora due to the Northern horizon being darker at lower latitudes and the duration of darker skies being longer.
WHAT TIME IS BEST?
As far as times to go hunting, if you do plan to head out, at mid UK latitudes your best chances of catching anything (weather permitting) will be roughly between midnight to 2am when the skies are at their darkest.
Further South in the UK your window of darker skies may be longer, for example if you live in Cornwall your window of Nautical Darkness is between 23:15-03:20 BST.
SUMMARY
To sum up, it's another will it or won't it situation. NASA and NOAA predictions for arrival were proved wrong and Reading Uni models say we have a chance of seeing something arrive tonight. Fingers crossed! 🤞
It is always worth remembering these are just predictions and we can't know for certain until we start to see something showing on the satellites. Depending on how fast the solar wind is travelling, if we do see anything arriving at satellite level this will give us roughly around half and hour to an hours notice.
The main message again just like last time is we have the potential for aurora tonight, however things need to line up just right and DON'T EXPECT ANYTHING FOR CERTAIN!
In the meantime charge your camera batteries and make plans for where you might go if we see any activity.
FOLLOW OUR SOCIALS FOR UPDATES
As always, we will be keeping an eye on the skies and satellite data and will keep you all updated with any developments.
Please follow our Facebook @astrodoguk for up-to-date and accurate aurora alerts — we always make sure to alert you if things are looking promising to give you the best chance possible of seeing and photographing the aurora yourselves. 😊💖
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Wishing you good luck and clear skies. ✨️