Documentation
Everything you need to understand how Lumina Observer works and get the most out of your aurora hunts.
flare Aurora Science & Detection
- Aurora Probability ModelHow Lumina calculates aurora probability — the logistic model, Newell coupling, storm memory, and the maths behind the percentage.
- Probability Modes: Field vs PlanField Mode (right now) vs Plan Mode (later tonight). Which to use, when, and how to read the sparklines.
- Substorm Detection & TrackingHow Lumina spots substorms using GOES satellites and Geoscience Australia ground stations, and what each alert level means for your chances.
- CME Tracking & Impact PredictionHow coronal mass ejections are tracked from the Sun to Earth — NASA DONKI data, WSA-ENLIL models, and G-scale classification.
- Aurora Oval Geometry & ElevationHow Lumina estimates where the auroral oval sits and calculates the elevation angle from your location, accounting for Earth curvature.
- Geomagnetic Coordinates & IGRF-14Why aurora follows magnetic latitude, not geographic — how Lumina converts your location using the IGRF-14 model.
insights Data & Metrics
- Data Sources & Update CadenceWhere all the data comes from — SOLAR1, NOAA, NASA, GOES, Geoscience Australia, and Open-Meteo — plus how often each updates.
- Scoring & Confidence MetricsHow the space weather score and confidence ratings work. What data health warnings mean and when to treat the forecast with caution.
- Hemispheric Power & the HP ForecastWhat hemispheric power means, how it relates to Kp and oval position, and how to read the 90-minute HP forecast.
visibility Viewing Conditions
- Viewing Recommendation EngineHow Lumina combines space weather, darkness, cloud, moon, and light pollution into a single go/no-go verdict.
- Moon Conditions & Aurora ViewingHow the moon affects aurora visibility — why a full moon doesn't completely ruin your chances, and how to plan around the lunar cycle.
- Light Pollution & Sky QualityThe SQM scale, why dark skies matter, and how to find and save good viewing locations with clear southern horizons.
- Atmospheric Seeing & Cloud CoverHow Lumina computes the seeing score — combining cloud cover, visibility, and aerosol optical depth into a single metric for aurora viewing.
apps App Features
- Space Weather VisualiserA guided tour of the interactive Sun-Earth diagram — what each animated element represents and how it's driven by live data.
- Notifications & Alert ThresholdsHow Lumina's aurora alerts work — web push setup, threshold levels, and making sure you get notified when it matters.
- Snapshots & Community ObservationsHow to capture and share aurora sightings, what metadata is recorded, trust badges, and offline support.
- Diary & Personal Viewing LogHow the diary organises your observations — night summaries, similar-night comparisons, and building local knowledge.
- API Reference (v1)Public WebSocket API for real-time aurora probability data — API keys and push-based updates with no polling required.
- Colour ScalesHow Lumina uses colour to communicate aurora intensity, condition quality, and UI severity — the three interpolated colour scales used throughout the app.