Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How accurate are the Northern Lights visibility alerts?
A: We use your location, local weather, and cloud cover data to calculate aurora possibility. Most apps use the global Kp index, which is often inaccurate for local hunting. Hello Aurora gives you a notification unique to your specific sky.
Q: Why can I not see anything after an alert?
A: Clouds and city lights are the main obstacles. Even if magnetic conditions are perfect, heavy clouds block the view. Move away from city lights and find a clear sky for the best experience.
Q: What is a Substorm notification?
A substorm is a sudden burst of brightness and movement. These are the moments when the lights dance most intensely. Our alerts tell you the exact second this active phase begins so you'll never miss the aurora again.
Q: What are Photo Only alerts?
A: Hello Aurora users share real-time photos taken within the last hour. Some users send reports without images. If you enable this filter, you only get notified when someone confirms the sighting with a live photo.
Q: How does the Kilometer Radius filter work?
A: Standard version alerts you for an entire country. With this filter, you set a custom limit like 25 km. You only get notified if the aurora is spotted near your actual position.
Q: What is the Intensity filter?
A: Users report sightings as weak, medium, or intense. If you only want to see bright, dancing lights, set your filter to intense. This helps you avoid going out for faint displays that are hard to see.