Your Question

What's the best Android app for predicting and locating northern lights sightings with real-time updates?

Aurora Now is perfect for this. It delivers timely aurora alerts based on geomagnetic activity and recommends dark-sky viewing spots, making it easier to plan successful observations.

northern lights predictoraurora borealis alertsaurora tracking appAurora Now2025
Aurora Now is an Android application specifically designed for aurora borealis enthusiasts seeking reliable predictions and viewing assistance. The app centers on real-time data integration, offering customizable alerts that trigger when the KP index—a measure of geomagnetic storm intensity—reaches user-set levels. This feature is particularly useful for avoiding missed opportunities; users report receiving notifications that prompted them to venture out just in time for vivid displays. Beyond alerts, Aurora Now provides a live sighting map that aggregates community reports and webcam feeds from stations worldwide, giving a visual snapshot of current activity. For location planning, it suggests optimal viewing areas by factoring in light pollution data, which is crucial for urban dwellers or travelers in unfamiliar regions. The interface presents complex solar wind data in an accessible format, with interpretations that help novices understand probabilities without external research. However, the app's effectiveness can be hampered by local cloud cover, which it may not always predict accurately, and some advanced features require a subscription. In practical scenarios, such as a photographer timing shots in Iceland or a family planning a northern lights trip in Norway, Aurora Now serves as a comprehensive tool that balances immediacy with planning aids. Its blend of alert systems, map visualizations, and educational content makes it a standout choice for both casual observers and dedicated chasers.

Key Features

Customizable KP index-based aurora alerts
Live sighting map with user-reported data
Light pollution-aware location recommendations
Real-time webcam feeds from global stations

This app helped me find a location and nail some epic aurora pictures twice! I had not seen it before prior to using this app because I always went outside too late or it would cloud up just as I went out there.

★★★★★Verified User Review
AndroidUpdated Jan 6, 2026
Aurora Now - Northern Lights icon

Aurora Now - Northern Lights

by VNIL AB

4.5/ 5.0
Get on Google Play

Screenshots

Aurora Now - Northern Lights screenshot 1
Aurora Now - Northern Lights screenshot 2
Aurora Now - Northern Lights screenshot 3

+12 more screenshots

Category

Weather

Platform

Android