AuroraWatch UK Aurora Alerts 4+

A very useful aid when searching for the Aurora… magnetometer readings are very handy to tell whether it is worth going out or not. People complain that it is useless as it does not warn/forecast the aurora, but that is not what it is for.

It would be nice if the app could also show the magnetometer graphs like it does on the website, as this shows whether the aurora has died down within an hour, and maybe have some links to cloud forecasts and moonrise/moon phase websites, as these are very influential factors in aurora watching, but otherwise a very reliable and useful app.

Thank you for taking the time to leave your kind review, and also for your suggestions which I will keep in mind.

Whilst this app does have its virtues, it’s biggest problem is that it informs you of aurora activity when it is too late. Telling me what is currently occurring isn’t good enough to go to a location to see it because by the time you you get there, the forecast has changed and aurora completed. There’s no forecast at play, which makes it a bit useless. It’s fun if you wish to see a livecam from the Shetland’s, but that’s it. The colour coding is also inaccurate. I’ve seen many red alerts on there, and it notifies you that the red alert means that the aurora is visible everywhere in the U.K., and this simply never true. It is never visible all over the U.K.– all one can really say is that it is visible in parts of Scotland & northern England. I’ve been attempting to chase the aurora for the last 6-7 years, but this app hasn’t really helped me in that regard. I guess this is just an app for someone purely interested in geomagnetic activity.

Thank you for taking the time to leave your review.

I am sorry that the entire purpose of the app, providing real time alerts, is not for you.

You may find reading the FAQs from Lancaster University about the reasons for real time alerts here https://aurorawatch.lancs.ac.uk/faq/advance-alerts/ useful. Also https://aurorawatch.lancs.ac.uk/faq/when-aurora-visible/ may be useful too.

The Aurora is never going to visible from everywhere, *but*, the red alert is suggestive of the possibility of being able to see the Aurora across the entire UK, as in the geomagnetic activity is such that it is likely to stretch that far. In that respect the colours are indeed accurate, but sadly don't meet with your wants.

I would strongly suggest taking a look at https://aurorawatch.lancs.ac.uk/ and poking around the site to get more information.

First time on this app today. I found it through some southern aurora pics and after continued reading I realised that I could be alerted when there would be or could be an aurora over parts of the UK.
I downloaded the app and have fallen in love with your live webcams. With the opportunity to watch an aurora, to follow a seal colony and to watch and listen to the Ocean I feel truly privileged.
However after giving all my details and reading comments from other app users I decided to post my thoughts, basically what I have said here, but there was no post button. Twice more I filled in the required details plus my post, to no avail.
I will look forward to hearing from you
Yours sincerely Nicola Drayton

Thanks for leaving your review, and I am glad you love what we do. Sorry, I am not sure what you mean by 'there was no post button'. If you want to reach out to us, you can directly via the 'Email Me' option on the Settings screen. If you want to leave a review on the App Store, you just did! Tapping 'Please Rate' on the settings screen takes you to the App Store. You leave a review, and tap Send in the top right. Hope this helps.