Hourly Forecast
Using real-time solar wind data from Nasa’s ACE spacecraft, matched with data obtained from a network of magnetometers located worldwide, we are able to forecast, with reasonable accuracy, how the Northern Lights will behave up to one hour in advance. The image shows estimated aurora activity now.
Click here for Non Flash version
Right now, the aurora is predicted to be: Kp 3.00
In 0 hour and 23 minutes, the aurora is predicted to be kp 3.00
In 0 hour and 38 minutes, the aurora is predicted to be kp 3.33
In 0 hour and 53 minutes, the aurora is predicted to be kp 3.67
System status: 
All good.
3 Day Forecast
Courtesy of NOAA.
Predicted kp numbers for the next 3 days:
Time now in UTC (Universal Time) is: 02:51 21/08/17
Aug 21 Aug 22 Aug 23
00-03UT 4 4 2
03-06UT 4 3 3
06-09UT 3 3 2
09-12UT 3 2 2
12-15UT 2 2 2
15-18UT 2 2 2
18-21UT 3 2 2
21-00UT 4 3 2
Why do we use UTC?
UTC (Universal Time) is used in science, weather, aviation, military and many other fields. It eliminates confusion with multiple time zones and daylight saving. For more information on UTC click here
Solar Wind Gauges
These gauges are our own system, they are updated every 60 seconds directly from Nasa’s ACE spacecraft data. The data you see here is what the ACE spacecraft monitored only moments ago. These 3 components are the most important components of the solar wind (when it comes to Aurora Borealis). Note the Bz gauge works backwards. You can view all the components of the solar wind on our other solar wind tool here.
Gauges are updated every minute live (without the need for page refresh).
How to interpret the gauge activity
 (short term prediction) |
 Real time solar wind tool click to launch |
 NOAA CME Prediction Forecast click to launch |
 NASA CME Prediction Forecast click to launch |
The ACE spacecraft has been superseded by DSCOVR (data below).
ACE is still operational however, so now we have two sources of solar wind data.
ACE Real Time Solar Wind MAG & SWEPAM data
ACE Real Time Solar Wind EPAM (Low Energy Electrons & Protons) data
Magnetometer stackplot
What Kp strength do you need to view Northern Lights where you are?
The Northern Lights are most often seen in the Lapland regions of Finland, Sweden and Norway along with Iceland and Greenland. But during high activity, auroras are often visible from much lower latitudes, often including Scotland, Ireland, Denmark, Estonia and more. This table allows you to see what Kp level is typically required see aurora borealis where you are in the event of high geomagnetic activity.
If you are having difficulty seeing northern lights from your location, you are always welcome to visit us and come out aurora chasing personally with us, in the most northern town in the EU! Visit tours.aurora-service.eu for more info.
Aurora Service was set up by me (Tony). I am a computer programmer and aurora watcher, so I combined both to create this site to help my Northern Lights forecasting and viewing. The site has kept growing and now it is a great resource for Aurora chasers all over the world.
