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 Model
How Lumina calculates aurora probability — the logistic model, Newell coupling, storm memory, and the maths behind the percentage.
- Probability Modes: Field vs Plan
Field Mode (right now) vs Plan Mode (later tonight). Which to use, when, and how to read the sparklines.
- Substorm Detection & Tracking
How Lumina spots substorms using GOES satellites and Geoscience Australia ground stations, and what each alert level means for your chances.
- CME Tracking & Impact Prediction
How coronal mass ejections are tracked from the Sun to Earth — NASA DONKI data, WSA-ENLIL models, and G-scale classification.
- Aurora Oval Geometry & Elevation
How Lumina estimates where the auroral oval sits and calculates the elevation angle from your location, accounting for Earth curvature.
- Geomagnetic Coordinates & IGRF-14
Why aurora follows magnetic latitude, not geographic — how Lumina converts your location using the IGRF-14 model.
insights Data & Metrics
- Data Sources & Update Cadence
Where all the data comes from — SOLAR1, NOAA, NASA, GOES, Geoscience Australia, and Open-Meteo — plus how often each updates.
- Scoring & Confidence Metrics
How 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 Forecast
What 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 Engine
How Lumina combines space weather, darkness, cloud, moon, and light pollution into a single go/no-go verdict.
- Moon Conditions & Aurora Viewing
How 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 Quality
The SQM scale, why dark skies matter, and how to find and save good viewing locations with clear southern horizons.
- Cloud Cover & Clearing Predictions
How Lumina uses cloud forecasts to find clear sky, detect clearings, and tell you whether it's worth driving somewhere else.
apps App Features
- Space Weather Visualiser
A guided tour of the interactive Sun-Earth diagram — what each animated element represents and how it's driven by live data.
- Notifications & Alert Thresholds
How Lumina's aurora alerts work — web push setup, threshold levels, and making sure you get notified when it matters.
- Snapshots & Community Observations
How to capture and share aurora sightings, what metadata is recorded, trust badges, and offline support.
- Diary & Personal Viewing Log
How the diary organises your observations — night summaries, similar-night comparisons, and building local knowledge.
menu_book Reference
- Latitude-Aware Calibration
How Lumina adjusts probability for your latitude across AU/NZ — why Hobart sees higher odds than Adelaide for the same conditions.
- Glossary
Quick definitions of every space weather term in Lumina — IMF Bz, Kp, HP, substorms, CMEs, Newell coupling, and more.