Aurora Monitor V1

cults3d

It's high time. We're closing in on Solar Maximum and chances are increasing worldwide that you'll see the breathtaking Aurora Borealis / Northern Lights. Seeing the aurora can be a challenge, due to a lack of accurate information specific for your location. Add poor locations, light polluted skies, clouds and sometimes only a 30-minute window of opportunity, and it's like searching for a needle in a haystack. Many people think Auroras are limited to the Arctic Circle. But unless you live at the equator - and even then it can occur occasionally - you too can see it if you're in the right place at the right time. The aurora monitor is a technology I've been using for years to capture stunning photographs of the aurora (attached). I've updated this tech for Thingiverse and turned it into a standalone Arduino-based unit that you set up specifically for your location. An RGB LED indicates if there's an active aurora in your area with 30-60 minutes' advance warning. The strength of the storm is indicated by the auroral color of the LED, giving you around a 95% level of accuracy. Detailed information can also be tweeted directly to you. Here's my location feed: https://twitter.com/AuroraAdec