Aurora Forecast 3D

11.0MB v9.0.0 Update Date：2025-12-15 Developer：Fred Sigernes

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Aurora Forecast 3D Application Screenshots

Aurora Forecast 3D AI Editor's Review

Aurora Forecast 3D offers stunning 3D visualizations and precise aurora tracking. Get real-time KP index, solar wind data, and customizable alerts to witness the Northern Lights. A must-have for aurora chasers!

Comprehensive Analysis

Aurora Forecast 3D provides a comprehensive suite of tools for aurora enthusiasts. It features a visually appealing 3D globe displaying the aurora's current location and intensity. Users can access real-time KP index, solar wind speed, and density data to predict optimal viewing times. The app also offers customizable alerts, ensuring users don't miss out on aurora displays. While the app is generally user-friendly, new users might find the initial setup slightly confusing. Overall, it's a valuable tool for anyone interested in chasing the Northern Lights.

Key Advantages

Stunning 3D aurora visualization for immersive experience.
Real-time KP index and solar wind data for accurate forecasting.
Customizable alerts to notify users of optimal viewing conditions.

Areas for Improvement

May require a strong internet connection for optimal performance.
The initial setup could be more intuitive for new users.

The description of Aurora Forecast 3D

Site Editorial Commentary：The app forecasts the location of the auroral oval up +4 hours in time.

Aurora Forecast 3D is your comprehensive tool for tracking the aurora borealis (northern lights) and aurora australis (southern lights) from anywhere on Earth. Explore a stunning 3D rendering of our planet, complete with rotation and scaling controls, allowing you to pinpoint aurora locations with ease. Create and customize your own ground-station list for personalized monitoring.

Witness the dynamic solar illumination of the Earth in near real-time. Benefit from short-term forecasts (up to +6 hours) and long-term forecasts (up to 3 days), updated regularly when the app is active and connected to the internet.

The integrated Aurora Compass is an invaluable feature, guiding you to the precise location of the auroral oval, Moon, and Sun in the sky from your specific location. The compass also visualizes the Moon's phase and age. Zoom out in the 3D viewport to reveal satellites, stars, and planets in their orbits around the Sun.

FEATURES:
- Interactive 3D view of Earth.
- Realistic solar and lunar illumination.
- Real-time aurora oval size and location display.
- Day side location of the red Cusp.
- Forecasts based on the Kp index predictions from the Space weather Prediction Centre (NOAA-SWPC).
- Includes a detailed star map with 2.4 million stars.
- High-resolution City light texture.
- Detailed Earth, Sun, and Moon textures.
- Sky view module for tracking planets and stars.
- 3-day space weather forecast ticker.
- Two-Line Element (TLE) satellite orbit calculations.
- Skyview navigation for easy orientation.
- 3D Laser Star pointer for identifying constellations.
- Sounding rocket trajectory tracking.
- Daily Sun and Moon elevation plots with rise and set times.
- Epoch selection for magnetic pole position.
- Aurora ovals based on polar orbiting satellite data.
- Direct web links to satellites, stars, planets, and your current position.
- Access to All-sky camera links from the Boreal Aurora Camera Constellation (BACC).
- Dynamic sky color animation.
- Zhang and Paxton auroral ovals included.
- Geomagnetic storm push notifications to alert you to significant events.
- Helpful Youtube demonstration videos.

References
[1] Sigernes F., M. Dyrland, P. Brekke, S. Chernouss, D.A. Lorentzen, K. Oksavik, and C.S. Deehr, Two methods to forecast auroral displays, journal of Space Weather and Space Climate (SWSC), Vol. 1, No. 1, A03, DOI:10.1051/swsc/2011003, 2011.

[2] Starkov G. V., Mathematical model of the auroral boundaries, Geomagnetism and Aeronomy, 34 (3), 331-336, 1994.

[3] P. Schlyter, How to compute planetary positions, http://stjarnhimlen.se/, stockholm, Sweden.

[4] Bridgman, T. and Wright, E., The Tycho Catalog Sky map- Version 2.0, nasA/Goddard Space Flight Center Scientific Visualization Studio, http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/3572, January 26, 2009.

[5] The Visible Earth catalog, http://visibleearth.nasa.gov/, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, April-October, 2012.

[6] T. Patterson, Natural Earth III - Texture Maps, http://www.shadedrelief.com, October 1, 2016.

[7] Nexus - Planet Textures, http://www.solarsystemscope.com/nexus/, January 4, 2013.

[8] Hoffleit, D. and Warren, Jr., W.H., The Bright Star Catalog, 5th Revised Edition (Preliminary Version), Astronomical Data Center, NSSDC/ADC, 1991.

[9] Vallado, David A., Paul Crawford, Richard Hujsak, and T.S. Kelso, Revisiting Spacetrack Report #3, AIAA/AAS-2006-6753, https://celestrak.com, 2006.

[10] Tsyganenko, N.A., Secular drift of the auroral ovals: How fast do they actually move?, Geophysical Research Letters, 46, 3017-3023, 2019.

[11] M. J. Breedveld, Predicting the Auroral Oval Boundaries by Means of Polar Operational Environmental Satellite Particle Precipitation Data, Master thesis, Department of Physics and Technology, Faculty of Science and Technology, The Arctic University of Norway, June 2020.

[12] Perez, R., J,M. Seals and B. Smith, An all-weather model for sky illuminance distribution, Solar Energy, 1993.

[13] Preetham, A.J, P. Shirley and B. Smith, A practical model for daylight Computer graphics, (SIGGRAPH 99 Proceedings), 91-100, 1999.

[14] Zhang Y., and L. J. Paxton, An empirical Kp-dependent global auroral model based on TIMED/GUVI data, J. Atm. Solar-Terr. Phys., 70, 1231-1242, 2008.