The aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights, is a breathtaking natural phenomenon that occasionally graces the night skies over Britain. Once witnessed, the experience is unforgettable. AuroraWatch UK is a vital tool for enthusiasts, enabling you to monitor geomagnetic activity and receive alerts when there's a possibility of viewing the aurora from the UK.

Stay informed with alerts triggered by changes in the AuroraWatch status level, which signal the relative likelihood of aurora sightings in the UK. You can also check the current alert status and review the activity history from the last 24 hours. Additionally, a 30-minute forecast model from the Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) provides further insights into potential aurora visibility.

For any issues with the service, please email [email protected].

Important Notes:

• AuroraWatch is not a forecasting app but rather a monitoring tool.
• Phone settings like Battery Saver can limit the reception of push notifications, potentially narrowing or closing the aurora alert window. Ensure that notifications for AuroraWatch UK are enabled in your phone's settings.
• The app does not provide historical alerts. If your phone is off or unable to connect to the internet when the status increases and then decreases before the next data update, you will not receive an alert.
• There is a necessary delay in sending alerts to allow the data to stabilize, as recommended by Lancaster University.
• Lancaster University's alerts primarily rely on data from their Lancaster magnetometer, though they also have others, including one in Shetland. Alerts may be more 'pessimistic' as they are generally based on Lancaster data, which is more appropriate for those in England but less so for those further north.

The AuroraWatch UK app for Android is developed and maintained by Smallbouldering Projects and is not an 'Official' app. The alerts are 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 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 you to receive additional notifications if the status value (nT) increases even further after a red alert.