About the project
BzMeter — space weather for aurora hunting
BzMeter is a website for aurora hunters: it gathers space-weather data in one place and tries to explain it in human language.
It gathers open NOAA/SWPC data, shows solar-wind graphs, and helps you quickly understand what is happening right now: what NOAA expects, what the satellites are showing, whether energy is transferring into the magnetosphere, and whether aurora can realistically be observed in the selected time zone.
The site does not just show Bz, speed, and Kp — it tries to explain them in human language: the flow is elevated, Bz is weakly southward, energy transfer is still borderline, and it is currently too bright for observation.
This is not a magic predictor and not a “today there will be aurora” button. BzMeter is meant for a more honest workflow: quickly assess the situation, filter out the noise, and understand when it is truly worth opening the graphs, watching the sky, or driving to an observation spot.
What it takes into account
- NOAA forecasts and geomagnetic warnings;
- solar-wind parameters: Bz, speed, Bt, and density;
- energy transfer into the magnetosphere;
- how stable the parameters remain over time;
- the Sun's altitude for 60° north latitude and the selected time zone.
Not every NOAA alert matters for aurora hunting. For example, elevated electron-flux messages may matter for satellites, but they do not mean it is time to look at the sky. That is why BzMeter separates geomagnetic warnings from other NOAA messages.
Why this matters
When someone is chasing aurora, they usually have to watch several places at once: NOAA, Bz graphs, wind speed, Kp, data freshness, and time-zone context. BzMeter pulls that into one screen.
If the main site is hard to open on the road, in the field, or on a weak mobile connection, BzMeter also has a lite version. It is a lighter page that loads faster and still gives access to the key data where the full interface may feel slower.
Important
BzMeter does not guarantee that aurora will appear. Visibility depends on latitude, cloud cover, light pollution, time of day, the Moon, and the strength of the specific event.
The project is currently in alpha: the interface, wording, and explanation logic are still being refined, and some screens or phrases may change noticeably.
If the full site loads poorly, you can open the lite version instead: it is simpler, lighter, and meant to be a backup path to the data.
BzMeter is not an official NOAA service. The data comes from open NOAA/SWPC sources, while the interpretation is produced by the BzMeter project.
BzMeter was created by Sasha Shadov — the author of GoAurora and an aurora hunter. The project grew out of real observation practice, forecasting, and conversations with the community.
FAQ
What does BzMeter show?
BzMeter shows the key space-weather parameters: Bz, Bt, solar-wind speed and density, Dst3, Kp, the NOAA forecast, and current alerts. The main goal is to help you quickly judge whether the conditions look potentially interesting for aurora.
Why does negative Bz matter?
Put very simply, southward Bz helps the solar wind transfer energy into Earth's magnetosphere. Bz alone does not guarantee anything, but sustained southward Bz is one of the main signs that conditions may be intensifying.
If NOAA issues a warning, does that mean aurora will definitely be visible?
No. A NOAA warning means space weather may become active, but visible aurora still depends on latitude, cloud cover, light pollution, time of day, the Moon, and how long the useful parameters actually hold.
Where does the data come from?
BzMeter uses open NOAA/SWPC data and presents it in a more practical form. The project does not replace the original source — it helps you read the graphs and warnings faster, with less noise.
Who is BzMeter useful for?
It is useful for people who follow aurora regularly: observers, photographers, road-trip hunters, and also newcomers who want to see not only raw numbers, but a short explanation of what those numbers mean.