The aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights, is a stunning natural phenomenon that can sometimes be observed in the UK's night sky. Once witnessed, it leaves a lasting impression. Aurora Watch UK helps you keep track of geomagnetic activity, alerting you when there's a possibility of seeing the aurora from the UK.
Stay updated with alerts on increases in geomagnetic activity, which are triggered when the AuroraWatch status level changes. This indicates the likelihood of viewing an aurora in the UK. You can also check the current alert status (see Notes) and review the recent activity over the last 24 hours. Additionally, there's a 30-minute forecast model available from the Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC).
For any issues, please email [email protected].
Please note that Aurora Watch is not a forecasting app. Be aware that phone settings like Battery Saver can limit or even prevent push notifications, narrowing your 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 alerts retroactively. If your phone is off or unable to connect to the internet when the status increases but then decreases before the next data update, you will not receive an alert. There is also a necessary delay before alerts are sent, as recommended by Lancaster University, to allow the data to stabilize.
Lancaster University's alerts typically rely on their Lancaster magnetometer, though they also use others, including one in Shetland. Alerts might be more 'pessimistic' because the Shetland data is not usually used, which is more relevant for those in England but less so for those further north.
The Aurora Watch UK app for Android is developed and maintained by Smallbouldering Projects and is not an 'Official' app. The alert 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 the About section.
- Included Bristol and Portsmouth as new locations.
- Introduced a new optional Alert Notification feature, "Triggered by value," allowing you to receive another notification if, for example, a red alert status value (nT) increases further.
