Apps are one of the handiest things on the planet. Not just for getting things done, but also for leisure activities, such as following your favorite people on social media, listening to music, or even enjoying a spot of gaming. However, apps aren’t just good for keeping us entertained. You can use them to enjoy some of the world’s most amazing sites.
One of these sites is the aurora borealis, also known as the “Northern Lights,” which occur when energetic particles from space collide with atoms and molecules in the atmosphere, creating a visually stunning glow called an “aurora.” It’s a dance of particles between the Sun and the Earth called “space weather” and is best visible in northern Scandinavia, Iceland, Greenland, Alaska and even Canada.
Have you always wanted to catch the aurora borealis? Below are some apps that will help you get the very best out of the experience.
Hello Aurora
If you’re going to install one app to catch the Northern Lights, then it’s “Hello Aurora.” Icelandic inventors created the app, but it works well if you’re trying to catch the lights in Norway, too. Both beginners and experienced aurora borealis hunters use the app to alert them when the lights are going to surface and enjoy real-time alerts when others sight them. The app uses magnetic sensors and other data, including weather data and substorm data, to create accurate, real-time forecasts of when the lights will appear.
One of the issues with the Northern Lights is that, despite all the tech there is to predict when they’ll appear, no one can ever truly know when they’ll arise The Hello Aurora app has created a global community so that aurora borealis hunters can socialize, share sightings and other information about the lights, and unite to track them down, or at least to feel less lonely!
Space Weather Live
“SpaceWeatherLive” is one for Northern Lights nerds who not only want to see the lights but also to delve into the data that drives the forecasts. The app tracks geomagnetic data and solar storms and provides everything from Kp-index to solar winds to moon phases in tidy little graphs to present info clearly and accessibly.
You can switch between aurora activity and solar activity with a simple click, and the app offers a special dark mode so you can follow activity while out in the field. If you want to go back in time and see if you can spot any trends, you can delve into an archive and see what the aurora borealis was like on a specific time on a specific date. There’s a news section as well, so that not only can you receive activity alerts, but also read detailed reports on activity. If you’re new to hunting the lights, the info section is immensely helpful.
Aurora Alerts
The Aurora Alerts is one of the most popular and has received good reviews because of its accessibility and user-friendliness. On the main screen, you’ll get real-time data on:
- Wind speed (the faster it is, the more active the aurora will be)
- Interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) orientation (Bz): the more negative the Bz, is the more intense and active the aurora will be
- Solar wind density (the higher the quantity of particle fields in the solar wind, the denser the aurora will be)
- Magnetic field strength (Kp-index): a geomagnetic measure, and the higher the number, the more intense and widespread the aurora will be.
Ultimately, though, the Aurora Alerts app spares you the challenge of reading complex graphs and data by offering a color-coded system. As values increase, they turn from green to yellow and orange and, for strikingly high levels of activity, shift to red. Beginners can easily understand the chances of seeing the lights.
My Aurora Forecast
“My Aurora Forecast” is one of the most popular Northern Lights forecasting apps. The app provides push notifications when activity is expected to be high and provides forecasts for the next hour, week, or even several weeks to help hunters plan to catch the lights. Need support with your travel planning? The app recommends several tours for people wishing to visit aurora borealis locations.
My Aurora Forecast indicates where the best places to see the lights are right now: you can even catch live aurora webcams from around the world. One of the best things about the app is its full functionality. Whereas some apps charge users for certain features, My Aurora Forecast places everything at their disposal so they can get the most out of their Northern Lights experience.
The aurora borealis is one of the most amazing natural experiences you’ll ever witness. The apps above harness as much data as possible and place it at your disposal to help you catch them. Fortunately, the lights occur regularly, so there’s always a chance to see them again if they evade you the first time.
