Resources

Official Data Sources

• NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center

  The official source for space weather forecasts, alerts, and warnings in the US.

• SpaceWeather.com

  News and information about the sun-earth environment.

Understanding the Aurora

What is the Kp Index?

The Kp-index is the global geomagnetic activity index that is based on 3-hour measurements from ground-based magnetometers around the world. It ranges from 0 to 9.

• Kp 0-2: Quiet. Aurora likely only visible at high latitudes.
• Kp 3-4: Unsettled. Visible further south.
• Kp 5+: Geomagnetic Storm. Visible at mid-latitudes (like Northern US).