# Aurora Forecast 3D — Locate the aurora borealis now > 3D Earth visualization and aurora borealis tracking tool with forecasts. (iPhone/iPad app by University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS).) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aurora-forecast-3d/id1266448783 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS)](https://appshunter.io/developer/1266448782) - Category: Weather, Education - Price: Free - Rating: 3.70/5 from 3 App Store ratings · 6 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 11.0 · 48 MB - Languages: American English - Released: 2017-08-09 - Data updated: 2026-08-19 - Monetization: free - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aurora-forecast-3d/id1266448783/reviews.md ## What is Aurora Forecast 3D? The Aurora Forecast 3D is a tool to track down where the aurora is located in the sky from any location on planet. It renders Earth in 3D with rotation and scaling at your fingertips. You can select locations and make your own ground - station list. The Sun illuminates the globe as it updates in near real-time. The short term forecasts are up to +6 hours, while the long term forecasts are up to 3 days ahead in time. They are updated when the app is active and connected to internet. An Aurora Compass is included that shows where the auroral oval [1,2], the Moon and the Sun are located as you look up at the sky from your location. The phase and age of the Moon is also visualized in the compass. By zooming out in the 3D view port, satellites, stars and planets appear in their orbits [3] around the Sun. FEATURES - 3D view port of Earth. - Solar illumination of the Earth and the Moon. - Aurora oval size and location in real time. - Day side location of the red Cusp. - Forecasts based on predicted Kp index estimated by the Space Weather Prediction Centre (NOAA-SWPC). - Includes a 2.4 million star map [4]. - City light texture [5]. - Earth, Sun and Moon textures [6,7]. - Sky view module to track planets and stars [8]. - 3-day space weather condition forecast as news ticker. - Two-Line Element (TLE) satellite orbit calculations [9]. - Skyview navigation. - 3D Laser Star pointer to identify star signs. - Sounding rocket trajectories. - Sun and Moon daily elevation plots with rise and set time. - Epoch selection for magnetic pole position [10] - Ovals based on polar orbiting satellites data [11] - Target web links added to satellites, stars, planets and position. - All-sky camera links to the Boreal Aurora Camera Constellation (BACC). - Sky color animation [12,13]. - Zhang and Paxton ovals [14]. - Earth shadow calculations in twilight - Youtube demonstration. References [1] Sigernes F., M. Dyrland, P. Brekke, S. Chernouss, D.A. Lorentzen, K. Oksavik, and C.S. Deehr, Two methods to forecast auroral displays, Journal of Space Weather and Space Climate (SWSC), Vol. 1, No. 1, A03, DOI:10.1051/swsc/2011003, 2011. [2] Starkov G. V., Mathematical model of the auroral boundaries, Geomagnetism and Aeronomy, 34 (3), 331-336, 1994. [3] P. Schlyter, How to compute planetary positions, http://stjarnhimlen.se/, Stockholm, Sweden. [4] Bridgman, T. and Wright, E., The Tycho Catalog Sky map- Version 2.0, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center Scientific Visualization Studio, http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/3572, January 26, 2009. [5] The Visible Earth catalog, http://visibleearth.nasa.gov/, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, April-October, 2012. [6] T. Patterson, Natural Earth III - Texture Maps, http://www.shadedrelief.com, October 1, 2016. [7] Nexus - Planet Textures, http://www.solarsystemscope.com/nexus/, January 4, 2013. [8] Hoffleit, D. and Warren, Jr., W.H., The Bright Star Catalog, 5th Revised Edition (Preliminary Version), Astronomical Data Center, NSSDC/ADC, 1991. [9] Vallado, David A., Paul Crawford, Richard Hujsak, and T.S. Kelso, Revisiting Spacetrack Report #3, AIAA/AAS-2006-6753, https://celestrak.com, 2006. [10] Tsyganenko, N.A., Secular drift of the auroral ovals: How fast do they actually move?, Geophysical Research Letters, 46, 3017-3023, 2019. [11] M. J. Breedveld, Predicting the Auroral Oval Boundaries by Means of Polar Operational Environmental Satellite Particle Precipitation Data, Master thesis, Department of Physics and Technology, Faculty of Science and Technology, The Arctic University of Norway, June 2020. [12] Perez, R., J,M. Seals and B. Smith, An all-weather model for sky illuminance distribution, Solar Energy, 1993. [13] Preetham, A.J, P. Shirley and B. Smith, A practical model for daylight Computer Graphics, (SIGGRAPH 99 Proceedings), 91-100, 1999. [14] Zhang Y., and L. J. Paxton, An empirical Kp-dependent global auroral model based on TIMED/GUVI data, J. Atm. Solar-Terr. Phys., 70, 1231-1242, 2008. ## Key features - 3D Earth visualization - Real-time aurora oval tracking - Up to 3-day aurora forecasts - Aurora compass with Sun and Moon - 2.4 million star map - Satellite orbit calculations ## Recent user reviews (6 of 6) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aurora-forecast-3d/id1266448783/reviews.md ### 3/5 — Custom locations not working in ver 8.6.0 *2024-01-04* I can add a location, but it doesn’t appear to populate a list of locations. Name of location analysis defaults to Longyearbyen. ### 1/5 — Für mich absolut unbedienbar *2023-11-07* Mir wurde die App empfohlen. Leider kann ich das überhaupt nicht nachvollziehen. Für mich ist die APP absolut unbedienbar. Das absolute Gegenteil von selbsterklärend. ### 3/5 — Location keeps being requested in background *2023-01-07* This is a great app, and I would give it five stars were it not for the fact that it keeps requesting location, even though I’ve selected only when in use, which drains my iPads batteries. It also results in notifications from iOS. Considering that I have already selected my location from a menu, I don’t know why it needs to do this. If I turn location services off, the app gives an error message. This is the only app that behaves like this. ### 5/5 — Very Good. Useful. And free. *2022-04-04* The best after checking some. Sweden is waiting for me. Aurora don’t be shy. ### 5/5 — Simple, easy to use *2020-09-07, version 6.5.0* One of the better free apps to see in real time where in the world a person can see northern lights. **Developer response:** Thanks! ### 3/5 — Useful app *2018-06-01* This is a useful app to visualize what the aurora is doing at any time. My big problem with it is I can’t get it to permanently save my actual location to quickly see if the aurora is near me. I have to scroll the map to find it, whether I edit My Location or save a new location into the app. But I do like that it shows the light pollution map to coordinate where to see the aurora. **Developer response:** This issue should now be fixed! Thanks. ## Frequently asked questions about Aurora Forecast 3D ### What is Aurora Forecast 3D? Aurora Forecast 3D is a tool that visualizes Earth in 3D and tracks the location of the aurora borealis. It provides real-time data and forecasts up to three days in advance. ### How accurate are the aurora forecasts? Forecasts are based on predicted Kp index estimated by the Space Weather Prediction Centre (NOAA-SWPC) and are updated when the app is active and connected to the internet. ### Does Aurora Forecast 3D have ads? No, Aurora Forecast 3D does not contain advertisements. ### What devices is Aurora Forecast 3D available on? Aurora Forecast 3D is available on iPhone, iPad, and iPod. ### How often is Aurora Forecast 3D updated? The app was last updated on December 30, 2025, indicating regular updates are provided. ### What is the age rating for Aurora Forecast 3D? Aurora Forecast 3D has an age rating of 4+, making it suitable for a wide audience. ### Can I see the Moon and Sun in Aurora Forecast 3D? Yes, the app includes an Aurora Compass that visualizes the phase and age of the Moon, as well as the location of the Sun. ### What other celestial bodies can I track? By zooming out in the 3D viewport, you can see satellites, stars, and planets in their orbits around the Sun, and track planets and stars in the Sky view module. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 9.2.0 — 2025-12-30 New magnetic model applied named Altitude-adjusted corrected geomagnetic coordinates (AACGM-v2), which gives a more precise location of the auroral ovals. ### 9.1.0 — 2025-05-22 Earth shadow height calculations in twilight conditions. Terminator line may also be shown. ### 8.9.0 — 2025-03-31 Improved graphics with color coded rocket trajectories ### 8.7.0 — 2024-10-02 More robust communication with server at the Kjell Henriksen Observatory (KHO) ### 8.6.0 — 2023-12-28 New server with https communication. ## Apps similar to Aurora Forecast 3D | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [ICAC Cotton Expert](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/icac-cotton-expert/id1489311998) | 3.7 (3) | Free | Weather | | [Sea Weather Professional](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sea-weather-professional/id384086202) | 4.3 (3) | $10.99 | Weather | | [DeltaWeather](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/deltaweather/id687933510) | 4.3 (3) | Free | Weather | | [iShindo - Seismic Intensity](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ishindo-seismic-intensity/id720738431) | 4.0 (3) | Free | Weather | | [Smart Sea Level Sensors](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart-sea-level-sensors/id1558164872) | 5.0 (3) | Free | Weather | | [Hazards – Red Cross](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hazards-red-cross/id1022344440) | 3.7 (3) | Free | Weather | ## Related topics [aurora forecast 3d](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/aurora-forecast-3d) · [university centre in svalbard](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/university-centre-in-svalbard) · [livewell with advocate aurora](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/livewell-with-advocate-aurora) · [aurora borealis](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/aurora-borealis) · [advocate aurora](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/advocate-aurora) --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-19.*