The aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights, is a breathtaking natural spectacle that can occasionally grace the night skies over the UK. Once witnessed, it leaves an indelible impression. 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:

• Receive timely notifications about increases in geomagnetic activity, which are triggered when the AuroraWatch status level changes. This indicates the relative likelihood of viewing an aurora in the UK.
• Check the current alert status for real-time updates.
• Review the recent history of alerts over the last 24 hours.
• Access a 30-minute forecast model from the Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC).

For any issues, please email [email protected].

Important Notes:

• Aurora Watch is not a forecasting app but rather a monitoring tool.
• Phone settings like Battery Saver can limit push notifications, potentially narrowing or closing the aurora alert window. Ensure that notifications for Aurora Watch UK are enabled in your phone's 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 will not receive an alert.
• There is a necessary delay before alerts are sent, as the data needs to 'settle down', as recommended by Lancaster University.
• Alerts are primarily based on data from Lancaster University's magnetometer, though they also have one in Shetland. Since the Shetland data is not typically used, alerts may be more 'pessimistic', which is suitable for those in England but less so for those further north.

About the App:

• The Aurora Watch UK (Android) app is developed and maintained by Smallbouldering Projects. It is not an 'official' app.
• Alerts data is provided by Lancaster University, UK, using data from the SAMNET and/or AuroraWatchNet magnetometer networks. Learn more at http://aurorawatch.lancs.ac.uk/introduction.

What's New in Version 1.97 (Updated Oct 20, 2024):

• Added 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 another notification if the status value (nT) increases even further after a red alert.