How to Use Our Website to Predict the Auroras

Our forecasting system monitors live space enviroments rather than historical averages like most apps. Learn how to interpret the common technical metrics to catch displays 30 to 60 minutes before they are visible.

Minute-By-Minute

Reading incoming solar wind timed to arrival, with the aurora driver flagged in red.

Aurora Probability

Understanding your short-range chance of seeing aurora in the next hour or so.

Aurora Sub Storms

The heads-up for sudden brightening and dancing bursts.

Kp Index

A scale of 0 to 9 that characterizes the magnitude of geomagnetic activity for the past 3 hours. What it means and why we going against the public and not use it.

Bz /Bt IMF

Interplanetary Magnetic Fields. Bz Tells us if the “gate” to earths ionsphere is open; Bt indicates overall strength of the field.

Solar Wind Speed

The velocity at which solar particles are hitting Earth. Higher speeds (400+ km/s) lead to more dynamic displays.

Solar Wind Density

Density measures how many charged particles (mostly protons and neutrons) are packed into solar winds.

Hemispheric Power

A measure of the total energy flowing into Earth's upper atmosphere. Higher GW indicates a stronger aurora show.

Magnetometers

Magnetomteres measure the shifts in Earth's magnetic field. When large deviations happen this is an indication of possible aurora brightening.

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