Aurora Watch (UK) v2.01
Smallbouldering Projects
About this app
Developer Description
Get AuroraWatch UK status alerts to warn of possible sightings
Get alerts about increases in geomagnetic activity - triggered when the AuroraWatch status level changes; this indicates the relative likelihood of viewing an aurora in the UK.
See the current alert status - see Notes.
Read last 24 hours recent history.
30 minute forecast model from SWPC.
Please email aurora@smallbouldering.com with any issues.
PLEASE NOTE:
Aurora Watch is NOT a forecasting app.
Phone settings such as Battery Saver which limit the phone getting push notifications will narrow or even close the aurora alert window.
If you are not receiving alerts check your phone's Settings/Notifications/App settings to see that Notifications for Aurora Watch UK are not turned off.
The app does not alert historically. If your phone is off or unable to connect to the internet when the status goes up but the level goes back down before the next data update you will receive no alert.
There is a necessary delay before alerts are sent since the data needs to 'settle down' as recommended by Lancaster University.
The alerts provided by Lancaster University tend to default to their Lancaster magnetometer for alerting though they do have others; most importantly one in Shetland. Naturally there is a greater chance of seeing an Aurora in Shetland but since that data is not (usually) used alerts are a little more 'pessimistic'. This is appropriate for those of us living in England but less so for those further north.
The Aurora Watch UK (Android) app is developed and maintained by Smallbouldering Projects, it is not an 'Official' app.
Alerts data is provided by Lancaster University, UK using data from the SAMNET and/or AuroraWatchNet magnetometer networks: Read more about this here:
http://aurorawatch.lancs.ac.uk/introduction
What's New
Fix clickable Settings Notes.
Version Information
- Version
- 2.01
- Downloads
- 100K+
- Updated on
- Nov 15, 2025
- Released
- Feb 9, 2015
- Requires
- Android 6.0
Statistics
Google Play Rating History
Rating Distribution
Downloads Over Time
Aurora Watch (UK) has been downloaded times. Over the past 30 days, it averaged downloads per day.
Shaded area shows 30-day prediction based on historical trends
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Aurora Watch (UK) - Google Play Rankings
Top Rankings
| Rank | Country | Category | List | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Ranking History in
No ranking data available yet. Rankings are updated daily.
#63 in Top Free Weather in United Kingdom
Aurora Watch (UK) users say on Google Play
Harriet Johnson
Really useful app! Updates frequently (every few minutes) and you can review geomagnetic levels from over the course of the day. The alert function is great, I like that you can choose to be alerted at different levels. Also appreciate that the app asks for very few device permissions (just notifications I think), is transparent about why these are needed, and doesn't require you to provide any personal data.
Blackbird Singing
Good app for notifying you, but it's a little behind. Informs you 1-2 hours later. A map of your location (and sightings) with the notification would be great to let you know visibility potential. But still the best app for this!! Thank you for making and sharing this app for us all ; )
MH Uzzell
Useful in theory, but it has to be manually refreshed and never gives alert notifications (even with all settings enabled). || Edit to reply: it's not straight away; I've had the app since May. I read the FAQ and tested settings before reviewing. Today I tried enabling 'test alert', and after receiving it, the app started refreshing itself -- but still didn't alert me when activity pipped over the threshold (amber) later on in the day.
callum I'anson
I've never left an app review. The app didn't update by itself I still don't get notifications from the app and above all I missed the northen lights last night because of being at work but if this app would of worked I would of seen it
Eddie Case
Notifications come in an hour out of sync so by the time I get the alert it's already at the end of the hour window. It's an app for the UK that doesn't allow for British Summertime and has no option in the settings to rectify this. I've rated as one star purely because notifications after the fact are of no use at all. Edit after response from developer - no email received, and whatever the reason, notifications an hour after the fact render the app useless other than for interest.
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