The aurora borealis, commonly known as the northern lights, is a breathtaking natural phenomenon that can occasionally grace the night skies over Britain. Once witnessed, its beauty is unforgettable. Aurora Watch UK provides a valuable service by monitoring geomagnetic activity, alerting you when there's a possibility of viewing the aurora from the UK.
Stay informed with alerts about increases in geomagnetic activity, which are triggered when the AuroraWatch status level changes. This change indicates the relative likelihood of catching a glimpse of the aurora in the UK. You can also check the current alert status and review the recent history of the last 24 hours. Additionally, a 30-minute forecast model from the Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) is available to enhance your aurora-watching experience.
For any issues, please email [email protected].
Please note that Aurora Watch is not a forecasting app. Phone settings like Battery Saver can limit the receipt of push notifications, potentially narrowing or even closing the aurora alert window. If you're not receiving alerts, check your phone's Settings/Notifications/App settings to ensure that notifications for Aurora Watch UK are enabled.
The app does not send historical alerts. If your phone is off or unable to connect to the internet when the status increases but returns to a lower level before the next data update, you will not receive an alert. There is also a necessary delay before alerts are sent, as the data needs time to 'settle down,' as recommended by Lancaster University.
Lancaster University's alerts typically rely on their Lancaster magnetometer, though they also use others, including one in Shetland. While there's a higher chance of seeing the aurora in Shetland, the alerts are generally more 'pessimistic' since the Shetland data is not usually used. This approach is suitable for those in England but less so for those further north.
The Aurora Watch UK (Android) app is developed and maintained by Smallbouldering Projects and is not an 'Official' app. The alerts data is provided by Lancaster University, UK, using data from the SAMNET and/or AuroraWatchNet magnetometer networks. For more information, visit http://aurorawatch.lancs.ac.uk/introduction.
What's New in the Latest Version 1.97
Last updated on Oct 20, 2024
- Added some abbreviations to About.
- Added Bristol and Portsmouth to locations.
- Added new optional Alert Notification "Triggered by value" so that, for example, when there has been a red alert and the status value (nT) goes even higher, you can receive another notification.
