Solar Ruler

Live view of the aurora oval over Earth. The green glow shows where the aurora is strongest right now. Your location is marked in orange when you choose to share it.

Location permission
Solar Ruler can optionally use your approximate location in this browser to highlight where you are on the globe. Your location is stored only on your device and is not sent to our servers.
Using a general view of Earth. • Loading aurora data…
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How to use Solar Ruler

1. Rotate the globe with your mouse or finger to explore different regions of Earth.
2. Scroll or pinch to zoom in on areas you are interested in.
3. The green band around the poles shows where the aurora is most likely visible right now, based on NOAA's OVATION model.
4. If you choose to share your location, an orange marker will show roughly where you are on the globe so you can see how close you are to the aurora zone.

What the aurora colors mean here

Solar Ruler simplifies the complex OVATION data into a glowing green belt. Brighter, denser clusters of points represent stronger auroral activity. This model describes where the aurora is most likely to appear, but local conditions like clouds, city lights, and the brightness of the Moon still affect what you can actually see with your eyes.

Tips for seeing the aurora

• Get away from city lights and find a dark horizon to the north (or south if you're in the Southern Hemisphere).
• Give your eyes at least 20–30 minutes to adjust to the dark.
• Check the forecast for clear skies – even a strong aurora can be hidden by clouds.
• Use Solar Ruler together with local aurora alerts and space weather reports for the best chances of catching a display.

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Privacy, ads, and data usage

Solar Ruler uses a small amount of technical data to operate: your browser, screen size, and basic analytics about how the site is used. If you grant location permission, your approximate coordinates are stored only in this browser to place the orange marker on the globe. They are not sent to our servers.

Thank you for using Solar Ruler! We hope you rind this tool useful. We will continue to improve it over time with new features and optimizations. Check back often for updates.