The aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights, is a mesmerizing natural spectacle that can occasionally grace the night skies over Britain. Witnessing this phenomenon is an unforgettable experience. Aurora Watch UK provides a valuable service by monitoring geomagnetic activity and alerting you when there's a possibility of seeing the aurora from the UK.

Stay informed with alerts about increases in geomagnetic activity, which are triggered when the AuroraWatch status level changes. These alerts indicate the relative likelihood of viewing an aurora in the UK. You can also check the current alert status and review the recent history of the last 24 hours. Additionally, a 30-minute forecast model from the Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) is available to help you plan your aurora watching.

For any issues, please email [email protected].

Please note that Aurora Watch 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 Aurora Watch 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 returns to a lower level before the next data update, you will not receive an alert. There is also a necessary delay before alerts are sent, as the data needs to 'settle down,' as recommended by Lancaster University.

Lancaster University, which provides the alerts, primarily uses data from their Lancaster magnetometer, though they also have others, including one in Shetland. While there's a higher chance of seeing an aurora in Shetland, the alerts are generally more 'pessimistic' since they are based on the Lancaster data. This approach is suitable for those in England but may be 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 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.