PhosphorSol

PhosphorSol is a real-time space weather monitoring station for your iPhone, presenting live solar data from NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center through a retro CRT phosphor display interface.

Track the conditions between the Sun and Earth across six dedicated displays:

STATUS — Your mission control dashboard. An animated ASCII Sun with shimmering corona sits above the NOAA R/S/G threat scale indicators for radio blackouts, solar radiation storms, and geomagnetic disturbances. At a glance: current solar wind speed, Kp index, X-ray flux classification, and aurora probability at your latitude, with a miniature Kp trend chart showing recent geomagnetic activity.

WIND — Live telemetry from the DSCOVR satellite at the L1 Lagrange point, one million miles sunward. Three scrolling strip-chart traces display solar wind speed, IMF Bz magnetic field component, and proton density in real time. The Bz trace is colour-coded: green when the interplanetary magnetic field points northward (Earth's magnetosphere shielded), red when it swings southward (geomagnetic coupling begins). Six-hour statistics and a conditions reference guide complete the picture.

Kp — The planetary Kp geomagnetic disturbance index rendered as a colour-coded bar chart spanning observed readings and NOAA forecast periods. Bars transition from green through amber to red as storm thresholds are crossed. Below the chart: observed statistics with min/max/average readings, storm period counts, a tabulated 3-hour Kp forecast, and the NOAA G-scale legend from G1 Minor through G5 Extreme.

XRAY — Solar X-ray flux from the GOES primary satellite plotted on a logarithmic scale with flare classification thresholds marked at A, B, C, M, and X class levels. The trace changes colour by intensity. Below: a detailed log of recent flare events showing begin, peak, and end times with duration, and a flare classification reference.

AURORA — The OVATION auroral oval model for both northern and southern hemispheres, recoloured to match the CRT aesthetic. A probability reading for your latitude with a block-character meter bar, current Kp versus required Kp for visible aurora at your location, and observation/forecast timestamps.

ALERTS — A scrolling feed of SWPC alerts, warnings, and watches from the last 30 days. Each entry displays the issue timestamp, severity classification, and the substantive co