Aurora Watch (UK)

The aurora borealis, commonly known as the northern lights, is a breathtaking natural spectacle that occasionally graces the night skies over Britain. Witnessing this phenomenon is an unforgettable experience. Aurora Watch UK is your go-to resource for monitoring geomagnetic activity, alerting you when there's a chance to see the aurora from the UK. By staying updated with Aurora Watch UK, you can be ready to witness this mesmerizing event.

Stay informed with real-time alerts about increases in geomagnetic activity. These alerts are triggered whenever the AuroraWatch status level changes, indicating the likelihood of seeing an aurora in the UK. You can also check the current alert status and review the recent history for the last 24 hours. Additionally, access a 30-minute forecast model provided by the Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC).

If you encounter any issues, please email [email protected].

Please note that Aurora Watch is not a forecasting app. Your phone's settings, such as Battery Saver mode, can limit the receipt of push notifications, potentially narrowing or closing the aurora alert window. Ensure your phone's settings allow notifications from Aurora Watch UK by checking Settings/Notifications/App settings.

The app does not send historical alerts. 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 won't receive an alert. There is also a necessary delay in sending alerts, as recommended by Lancaster University, to allow the data to 'settle down'.

Lancaster University's alerts primarily use data from their Lancaster magnetometer, though they also utilize other magnetometers, including one in Shetland. Since Shetland's data is not usually used for alerts, the notifications can be more 'pessimistic' for those in England, though less accurate 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 comes from Lancaster University, UK, using information 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.
• Included Bristol and Portsmouth as new locations.
• Introduced a new optional Alert Notification "Triggered by value" feature, allowing you to receive another notification if the status value (nT) increases even after a red alert.