Planetary Kp index
0–9A three-hour estimate of global geomagnetic activity. Kp 5 and above is geomagnetic storm territory; Kp alone does not predict auroras at our home.
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BEYOND OUR BACKYARD
Sky & Space
A little curiosity, from the shoreline to the sun.
THE AURORA WATCH
Checking in with the sun…
Point Pleasant Beach
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The solar wind, in motion
NOAA SWPC · spacecraft data refreshes every minute · times are Eastern
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Solar wind speed
km/sThe flow of particles measured upstream of Earth, using NOAA’s active spacecraft. These are spacecraft observation times, not predicted arrival times.
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Solar wind density
protons/cm³How tightly packed the solar wind is. Higher density means more particles, but it does not tell the whole aurora story.
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Interplanetary magnetic field
Bt · nTThe total strength of the magnetic field carried by the solar wind. Compare with Bz to see its north–south orientation.
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North–south magnetic field
Bz · GSM · nTBelow zero means southward: sustained negative Bz can help solar-wind energy enter Earth’s magnetosphere. It does not guarantee visible auroras.
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THE SOLAR RECORD BOOK
Largest solar flares
Ranked by peak GOES X-ray flux (0.1–0.8 nm). Class rises A → B → C → M → X; each letter is 10× stronger. These are the largest events saved by this app, not all-time solar records.
Collecting NOAA flare reports…
AROUND THE SHORE
Sunlight & tides
Sunrise & sunset
Day & nightCalculating daylight…
Sunrise and sunset are calculated for our location. The curve illustrates day and night, not the sun’s exact altitude. Today shows the next 18 hours and previous 6 hours.
Tides & water levels
NOAA observationsLoading tide predictions…
Manasquan Inlet · heights in feet above MLLW (chart datum). Markers show NOAA high/low predictions. The smooth connecting line is interpolated between those events, not a continuous NOAA prediction or measured water level; storm surge is not included.
NOAA tide station 8532591 ↗DAYLIGHT TIMELINE
Today’s changing light
Local light changes gradually through these stages, even when the Sun is below the horizon.
Sunrise & sunset through the season
90-day span45 days before and after the selected date. Gold spans show daylight; times are Eastern.
THE MOON TONIGHT Waxing means the lit portion is growing; waning means it is shrinking. A crescent is less than half lit; a gibbous is more than half lit. New and full are the two ends of the cycle; first and last quarter are half lit.
Calculating phase…
Astronomical calculation
Official U.S. Naval Observatory phase timing for Point Pleasant Beach; local weather can affect visibility.