Aurora Watch (UK)

The aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights, is a breathtaking natural spectacle that can occasionally grace the night skies of Britain. Once witnessed, the experience is unforgettable. AuroraWatch UK is your go-to tool for tracking geomagnetic activity, providing alerts when conditions suggest that the aurora might be visible from the UK.

Stay informed with real-time alerts that notify you of increases in geomagnetic activity. These alerts are triggered when the AuroraWatch status level changes, signaling the potential for an aurora sighting in the UK. You can also check the current alert status, review the recent history of the last 24 hours, and access a 30-minute forecast model from the Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC).

For any issues, please email [email protected].

Please Note:

• AuroraWatch is not a forecasting app. It provides alerts based on current geomagnetic activity.
• Phone settings like Battery Saver can restrict push notifications, potentially narrowing or closing the aurora alert window. Ensure your phone's settings allow notifications from AuroraWatch UK.
• The app does not send alerts retroactively. If your phone is off or unable to connect to the internet during an increase in status that subsides before the next data update, you will not receive an alert.
• There is a necessary delay before alerts are sent, 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 have a magnetometer in Shetland. Since the Shetland data is not usually used, the alerts may be more 'pessimistic', which is more suitable for viewers in England but less so for those further north.

The AuroraWatch UK (Android) app is developed and maintained by Smallbouldering Projects and is not an 'Official' app. The alerts are based on data from Lancaster University, UK, utilizing the SAMNET and/or AuroraWatchNet magnetometer networks. For more information, visit http://aurorawatch.lancs.ac.uk/introduction.

What's New in 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 "Triggered by value" feature, allowing users to receive another notification if, for example, a red alert status value (nT) increases further.