Solar Weather

Solar Weather Monitor 🌞

Track space weather conditions in real-time! Monitor solar flares, geomagnetic storms, aurora forecasts, and solar wind data from NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center.

Features

🌞 Current Conditions - Real-time space weather status
📅 3-Day Forecast - Predict upcoming solar activity
🌌 Aurora Forecast - Will you see the Northern Lights?
🌊 Solar Wind - Track solar wind magnetic field
🚨 Alerts - Active space weather warnings
📊 Summary - Quick comprehensive overview

Perfect for:

• 📻 Ham radio operators
• 🌌 Aurora chasers & photographers
• 🛰️ Satellite operators
• ⚡ Power grid operators
• 🌍 Space weather enthusiasts

Usage

Current Space Weather

python3 solar-weather.py current

Output:

🌞 Space Weather Conditions
   2026-01-27 18:38:00 UTC

   📻 R0: none ✅
      Radio Blackouts (Solar Flares)

   ☢️  S0: none ✅
      Solar Radiation Storm

   🌍 G0: none ✅
      Geomagnetic Storm

3-Day Forecast

python3 solar-weather.py forecast

Shows today, tomorrow, and day after with probability percentages for solar events.

Aurora Forecast

python3 solar-weather.py aurora

Output:

🌌 Aurora Forecast

Current Conditions:
   Geomagnetic: none
   Solar Wind Bz: -2 nT

Tomorrow (2026-01-28):
   Geomagnetic: minor

🔮 Aurora Outlook:
   ⚠️  MODERATE - Aurora possible at high latitudes

Solar Wind Data

python3 solar-weather.py solarwind

Output:

🌊 Solar Wind Magnetic Field
   Time: 2026-01-27 18:36:00.000
   Bt: 8 nT (Total Magnitude)
   Bz: -2 nT (North/South Component)

   ✅ Slightly negative Bz

Note: Negative Bz (especially < -5 nT) is favorable for aurora activity!

Active Alerts

python3 solar-weather.py alerts

Shows active space weather watches, warnings, and alerts from NOAA.

Quick Summary

python3 solar-weather.py summary

Comprehensive overview of current conditions, solar wind, and tomorrow's forecast.

Understanding Space Weather Scales

NOAA uses three scales to measure space weather severity:

R Scale - Radio Blackouts (Solar Flares)

• R0: No impact
• R1-R2: Minor/Moderate - HF radio degradation
• R3-R5: Strong/Severe/Extreme - HF radio blackout

S Scale - Solar Radiation Storms

• S0: No impact
• S1-S2: Minor/Moderate - Satellite anomalies possible
• S3-S5: Strong/Severe/Extreme - Satellite damage, astronaut radiation

G Scale - Geomagnetic Storms (Aurora!)

• G0: No storm
• G1-G2: Minor/Moderate - Aurora at high latitudes
• G3-G5: Strong/Severe/Extreme - Aurora visible at mid-latitudes!

Example Prompts for Clawdbot

• "What are current space weather conditions?"
• "Is there an aurora forecast for tonight?"
• "Show me the solar wind data"
• "Any geomagnetic storm warnings?"
• "Give me a space weather summary"
• "Will I see aurora in [location]?"

JSON Output

Add --json to any command for structured data:

python3 solar-weather.py current --json
python3 solar-weather.py aurora --json

Data Source

All data comes from NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC):

• Official US government space weather monitoring
• Real-time updates
• Free public API
• https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/

Tips for Aurora Watchers 🌌

Best conditions for aurora:

1. Geomagnetic Storm (G1 or higher) ✅
2. Negative Bz (< -5 nT) ✅
3. Clear, dark skies 🌙
4. High latitude (or mid-latitude during major storms)

When to watch:

• Check aurora command daily
• Watch for G-scale warnings
• Monitor solar wind Bz component
• Peak activity often 1-2 hours after sunset

Ham Radio Operators 📻

HF propagation:

• R-scale events disrupt HF radio
• Solar flares cause sudden ionospheric disturbances
• Check current before contests/DXing
• Monitor alerts for radio blackout warnings

Future Ideas

• Location-based aurora visibility
• Push notifications for major events
• Historical storm data
• Solar flare predictions
• Satellite pass warnings during storms

Happy space weather watching! 🌞⚡🌌