The aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights, is a breathtaking natural phenomenon that occasionally graces the night skies over the UK. Once witnessed, it leaves an indelible mark on the viewer. Aurora Watch UK provides a valuable tool for enthusiasts, allowing you to monitor geomagnetic activity and receive alerts when there is a possibility of aurora visibility in the UK.

Stay updated with alerts that notify you of increases in geomagnetic activity. These alerts are triggered when the AuroraWatch status level changes, signaling the relative likelihood of witnessing an aurora in the UK.

You can easily check the current alert status by referring to the Notes section. Additionally, review the recent history of alerts over the last 24 hours and access a 30-minute forecast model from the Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC).

For any issues or concerns, please email [email protected].

Please note that Aurora Watch UK is not a forecasting app. Be mindful of your phone settings, such as Battery Saver, which can limit the reception of push notifications and potentially narrow or even close the aurora alert window. If you are 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 provide historical alerts. If your phone is off or unable to connect to the internet when the status rises but then falls before the next data update, you will not receive an alert. There is also a necessary delay before alerts are sent, as recommended by Lancaster University, to allow the data to stabilize.

Lancaster University, which provides the alert data, primarily uses their Lancaster magnetometer for alerting, though they also operate others, including one in Shetland. While there is a higher chance of seeing an aurora in Shetland, the alerts are based on the Lancaster data, making them slightly more conservative. This is suitable for those in England but may be less accurate for those living 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 sourced from 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 feature called "Triggered by value," allowing you to receive another notification if the status value (nT) increases further after a red alert.