Space Weather & Observatory Navigator
Real-time Kp index, geomagnetic storm alerts, and curated links to national observatories — all in your browser.
Space Weather Live
Source: NOAA SWPC · Cached up to 15 minutes
National Observatory Directory
Curated links to the world's leading space agencies, telescope networks, and amateur astronomy resources
Space Agencies
US National Aeronautics and Space Administration — flagship missions, planetary science, and Hubble/Webb imagery.
Visit →European Space Agency — Copernicus Earth observation, Gaia star survey, and ExoMars mission.
Visit →Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency — Hayabusa asteroid sample return and H3 launch vehicle.
Visit →Indian Space Research Organisation — Chandrayaan lunar programme and Aditya-L1 solar observatory.
Visit →China National Space Administration — Chang'e lunar missions and Tianwen Mars exploration.
Visit →National Astronomical Observatories of China — operator of FAST and LAMOST telescopes.
Visit →Ground Observatories
World's largest single-dish radio telescope at 500 m aperture, located in Guizhou, China.
Visit →Large Sky Area Multi-Object Fiber Spectroscopic Telescope — 4,000-fiber spectral survey in Xinglong, China.
Visit →China's oldest modern observatory (est. 1934) — asteroid naming authority and NEO monitoring centre.
Visit →8.2 m optical-infrared telescope atop Mauna Kea, operated by Japan's NAOJ — Hyper Suprime-Cam wide-field surveys.
Visit →European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope in Chile — four 8.2 m mirrors, adaptive optics, ESPRESSO spectrograph.
Visit →Twin 8.1 m telescopes (Hawaii & Chile) providing full-sky optical/IR access for the international community.
Visit →Space Weather Networks
NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center — authoritative source of Kp index, flare alerts, and geomagnetic storm forecasts.
Visit →ESA's Space Situational Awareness programme — European space weather forecasting and spacecraft anomaly monitoring.
Visit →Solar Dynamics Observatory — real-time solar imagery in 10 wavelengths and SolarSoftware data archive.
Visit →Solar and Heliospheric Observatory — joint ESA/NASA mission monitoring solar wind and CMEs since 1995.
Visit →Global Oscillation Network Group — 6-station helioseismology network providing 24/7 solar surface magnetograms.
Visit →Dark Sky & Amateur
International Dark-Sky Association — certifies dark-sky parks and advocates against light pollution globally.
Visit →Interactive global map of artificial sky brightness — plan observation sites using Bortle scale data.
Visit →Astronomy-focused cloud and transparency forecast — shows seeing, humidity, and wind at any location.
Visit →Space Weather Explained
What Is the Kp Index?
The planetary K-index (Kp) measures global geomagnetic activity on a 0–9 scale, averaged over 13 ground stations. Values above 5 indicate storm conditions. A Kp of 7+ brings aurora to mid-latitudes.
Geomagnetic Storm Scales
NOAA classifies storms G1–G5. G1 causes minor power grid fluctuations; G5 can cause widespread HF radio blackouts and satellite drag anomalies. G3+ storms are visible on news headlines.
When & Where to See Aurora
Kp ≥ 5 brings northern lights to ~60°N; Kp ≥ 7 to ~50°N; Kp = 9 to ~40°N. Look during the darkest hours after astronomical twilight in a clear northern sky far from city lights.
Solar Cycle 25
Solar Cycle 25 peaked around 2025 with historically high sunspot counts. More spots mean higher Kp storm frequency, stronger radio blackouts, and more aurora events for observers at mid-latitudes.