Aurora Tracker (Scientific)

Aurora Tracker is a real-time space weather monitoring station for aurora hunters. It combines data from NASA, NOAA, and ground-based observatories into one interface designed for making go/no-go decisions about aurora viewing.

REAL-TIME AURORA PROBABILITY
A 72-hour probability forecast that combines the OVATION auroral model, live solar wind measurements from the DSCOVR satellite at L1, cloud cover predictions, and your exact latitude. Shows your best viewing window — the exact hours with the highest chance of seeing aurora at your location.

SOLAR WIND MONITORING
Live data from the DSCOVR satellite, 1.5 million km from Earth:
• IMF Bz — the single most important aurora trigger (southward = aurora)
• Solar wind speed — faster wind = stronger geomagnetic response
• Proton density — higher density amplifies storm effects
• IMF Bt — total interplanetary magnetic field strength
All measurements include ENLIL model overlays showing predicted solar wind arrival.

GEOMAGNETIC INDICES
• Kp Index — 3-day planetary geomagnetic forecast from NOAA SWPC
• Dst Index — real-time ring current strength from Kyoto WDC
• GOES Magnetometer — geostationary orbit field measurements
• Ground magnetometers — nearest station to your location

SMART AURORA HUNT MODE
Set your departure time and maximum driving range. The app generates a candidate grid, calculates real driving times via OSRM, fetches cloud cover forecasts at your arrival time for each direction, and ranks the top 5 viewing spots on a map with route lines. Each spot shows viewing score, drive time, cloud forecast, and a Navigate button for turn-by-turn directions.

OVATION AURORA MAP
Real-time OVATION Prime aurora oval heatmap overlaid on a dark map with cloud cover tiles. Tap anywhere to set your location and check conditions for that spot.

26 LIVE AURORA WEBCAMS
All-sky cameras and horizon views from Svalbard (78°N) to New Zealand (45°S), sorted by latitude. Images auto-refresh every 30 seconds. See if aurora is visible at other locations before heading out yourself.

SPACE WEATHER DEEP DIVE
• 3-day storm probability forecasts (high and mid latitude)
• Predicted K values by 3-hour block
• NASA DONKI events — CMEs, solar flares, geomagnetic storms
• NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center written forecast
• 27-day solar rotation outlook

YOUR LOCATION, YOUR CONDITIONS
• Cloud cover forecast — total, low cloud, and precipitation probability
• Darkness windows — astronomical twilight times for tonight
• Moon phase and illumination — bright moons wash out faint aurora
• Coordinates, timezone, and geomagnetic latitude

Data sources: NOAA SWPC, NASA DSCOVR, OVATION Prime, WSA-ENLIL, Kyoto WDC, GOES Magnetometer, USGS Ground Magnetometers, Open-Meteo, NASA DONKI.