Transparency & Attribution
Data Sources
Aurora Hunt relies on a combination of authoritative space weather institutions and meteorological services to deliver predictive insights, live activity mapping, and local cloud-cover context. Below are the primary sources utilized by our proprietary tracking engine.
NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC)
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center serves as our primary upstream authority for global geomagnetic activity. Aurora Hunt ingests near real-time SWPC reporting, including Planetary K-index (Kp) estimates, 27-day forecast outlooks, and OVATION Prime model outputs for the auroral oval boundaries.
- 3-Day and 27-Day Forecast alignments.
- Estimated Planetary K-index (Current and History).
- WSA-Enlil Solar Wind Predictions.
Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) & ACE via NASA
To provide advanced chasers with immediate solar wind context, Aurora Hunt monitors realtime telemetry relayed via NASA and SWPC instruments positioned at the L1 Lagrange point. This data forms the backbone of our immediate short-term alerting protocols ahead of geomagnetic impact.
- Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF) metrics, specifically the Bz component orientation.
- Solar Wind Speed (km/s) and Particle Density (p/cm³).
Norwegian Meteorological Institute (Met.no / Yr.no)
A clear night sky is the most critical variable in aurora chasing. Aurora Hunt utilizes the world-class Locationforecast API provided by the Norwegian Meteorological Institute to overlay highly accurate predicted cloud cover onto our aurora probability maps. By cross-referencing geomagnetic strength with local tropospheric visibility, we calculate actionable "viewing scores" that prevent users from chasing blind into overcast conditions.
Weather forecast data is delivered by the Norwegian Meteorological Institute and NRK via Yr.no.
- High-resolution cloud fraction modeling (Clear, Few, Broken, Overcast).
- Short-term global visibility and weather phase predictions.
Legal Disclaimer & Accuracy Notice
Space weather is inherently volatile and non-deterministic. Our integration and processing of the aforementioned APIs are provided "as-is" for planning and informational purposes. Aurora Hunt, Leveling PRO, and the contributing agencies do not warrant the absolute accuracy or timing of visible auroral displays. All rights and intellectual property concerning raw telemetry remain with their respective distributing government and private agencies (NOAA, NASA, Norwegian Meteorological Institute).