Aurora Watch (UK)

The aurora borealis, also 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. With AuroraWatch UK, you can keep an eye on geomagnetic activity and receive alerts when there's a possibility of seeing the aurora from the UK.

AuroraWatch UK sends you notifications about heightened geomagnetic activity, which are triggered whenever there's a change in the AuroraWatch status level. This change indicates the likelihood of witnessing the aurora 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). If you encounter any issues, please email [email protected].

Please note that AuroraWatch UK is not a forecasting app. Certain phone settings, such as 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 AuroraWatch 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 then decreases before the next data update, you will not receive an alert.

There is a necessary delay before alerts are sent, as the data needs time to 'settle down,' as recommended by Lancaster University. The alerts provided by Lancaster University primarily use data from their Lancaster magnetometer, though they also have others, including one in Shetland. While there's a higher chance of seeing the aurora in Shetland, since that data is not typically used, the alerts may be more 'pessimistic,' which is suitable for those 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 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.

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