Heliocast

Heliocast is a mobile application that provides aurora forecasts and northern lights alerts by analyzing geomagnetic activity, sky darkness, moon phase, and cloud cover for a user's location to give a plain-language answer on visibility. It offers alerts based on solar wind data that wake users before auroral activity becomes visible overhead. The service pulls data from public sources including NOAA SWPC and NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory.

The free tier includes three nights of scoring and ranking, while the Pro tier extends this to fourteen nights with additional features like up to ten saved places and a weather-radar layer on the globe. Pro costs $4.99 per year with auto-renewal and the option to cancel anytime, and there is no monthly tier or trial countdown. Both tiers provide live Kp index, 3-day forecasts, and 27-day outlooks without requiring an account.

Heliocast distinguishes itself by weighing four specific factors—geomagnetic activity, sky darkness, moon phase, and cloud cover—to provide one plain-language answer instead of just a Kp number. It also watches solar wind data a million and a half kilometres upstream to wake users when the magnetic field turns south, usually an hour or more before anything reaches the sky. This approach ensures users know which night is worth the drive and when to be woken, rather than reacting after the aurora has already started.

The application fetches data from multiple public instruments including NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory for active regions, NOAA SWPC for Kp indices, and GFZ Potsdam for the definitive Kp record. It also utilizes cloud cover data from MET Norway and magnetometer readings from NRCan across the Canadian Arctic to ensure accurate local predictions. All these feeds are fetched by the server so that the agencies never see anything about the user's location.

Users can pick a night and receive a verdict on visibility along with the reason if the answer is no, such as cloud cover or a full moon washing out the light. The app provides ranked nights with dark hours and moon information behind each score, allowing users to plan their trip effectively. Additionally, the overnight Kp alert holds if the sky is clouded over or the sun is still up, ensuring the user is not disturbed unnecessarily.

The first-time user experience involves selecting a night to see the verdict and visibility score, with the ability to save up to three places initially. Once subscribed to Pro, users gain access to the full 14-night ranking, quiet hours settings, and the ability to save up to ten places including home and trip locations. The app also offers a sightings journal and a learn and glossary section for educational purposes.

The process begins by downloading the app for iOS or Android, where users can view the full 3D aurora map and solar disk imagery straight from NASA. They can then check the live Kp index and the 3-day forecast to decide if a drive is worthwhile. The app will notify them when the magnetic field turns south, providing a head start before the aurora arrives.

To get started, users can download the app for free from the iOS or Android app stores. There is no need to create an account to use the free tier, which includes tonight's verdict and visibility score. For extended features, users can subscribe to Pro for $4.99 per year, which auto-renews but can be cancelled anytime.

Some reviewers praise the app for providing a plain-language answer that considers cloud cover and moon phase, which are critical factors often ignored by simple Kp numbers. Users appreciate the ability to be woken before the aurora starts, allowing them to plan their viewing experience effectively. The integration of multiple data sources like NASA and NOAA is also highlighted as a key feature.

Heliocast compares favorably to other sites by providing a comprehensive view of the aurora, including the full 3D aurora map and solar wind telemetry. It also offers a 27-day outlook, which is more extensive than many competitors. The app's focus on plain-language answers and specific local conditions sets it apart from generic space weather sites.

You can reach Heliocast by e-mail at support@heliocast.app.

The official website of Heliocast is heliocast.app.

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