Cosmic Debris 2.0
Northern Lights monitor in the menu bar

What is Cosmic Debris?
Cosmic Debris is an Aurora Borealis (AKA the Northern Lights) monitor menu item. It monitors two internet data sources for the probability of an Aurora event. The menu icon then displays the likelihood of an event using a color scheme: green for low probability, yellow for medium probability, red for high probability (and active for PCAF), and gray for unknown. Options include having a popup window, email or sound alert you of upgrades to the probability levels, auto updating and more. Remember, this is a probabilty monitor. It doesn't actually tell you if the Northern Lights are active or not, but rather the likelihood that they could be active.

How do I use it?
First, start the app by double clicking on the icon. An icon with High, Med, Low or "???" (meaning unknown) will now appear in your menu bar. Next, choose which source you want to be the primary. This means if you would prefer to have the icon display the probability for high latitudes (northern US and Canada, such as Minnesota, Washington, Alaska, etc), middle latitudes (Illinois, Iowa, New York, etc), low latitudes (southern US), or the PCAF level. The PCAF level is a bit different from the other three choices. PCAF stands for "Polar Cap Absorption Factor". It's used mostly for determining the possibility of satellite and radio blackouts as a result of a solar flare, but can also mean there are aurora occurring as a result of the flare. The PCAF levels are described as follows:

• Unknown (?): The data are being downloaded.
• Low: No active sunspot region on the Sun is likely to produce a PCA event in the next 24 hours.
• Medium: A sunspot region showing characteristics favorable for producing a PCA event is present on the Sun. If an energetic flare occurs in this region, the probability of a significant PCAF event is very high.
• High: An energetic solar event has occurred or a proton event has been observed at satellite altitudes, and there is a high probability that a significant PCAF event will result within the next 24 hours.
• Active: A significant PCAF event is in progress at forecast time. This could mean the northern lights are active.

The menu icon displays the current probability level for the primary source you have chosen. When the current probability level is upgraded, you can opt to be alerted with a popup window, an email, a sound, or all three.

Data for Aurora event probability is gleaned from Solar Terrestrial Dispatch, and PCAF levels are gleaned from the NOAA Space Environment Center (SEC)

How much does it cost?
Free, but you can donate some cash if you wish. Choose "Send Donation" from the about box to go to my PayPal account.

Good news: The nice folks at Solar Terrestrial Dispatch have given me the OK to use their data. Hoo-yay!
Much thanks, Solar Terrestrial Dispatch!

Changes:
Version 2.0: Universal binary support, major bug with aurora forecasts fixed.
Version 1.7: Failure to download items from sel.noaa.gov fixed (URL changed). Thanks to Dr. Juan Cabanela.
Version 1.6: Added option to download and display the latest Planetary K-Index graph from SEC. Pressing Command + 0 (zero) will resize the Aurora Oval image or K-Index Graph to their default sizes. Other minor interface enhancements.
Version 1.5: Fixed error fetching/parsing current PCAF level. Bizarre and rare auto update failing bug fixed.
Version 1.4: After closing an alert window, the last active application will regain focus (rather than the Finder).
Version 1.3.1: Works with Mac OS X 10.2.x again. If you are using Mac OS X 10.3 or higher, you do not need this update. (I need a 10.2 box here at home, damnit).
Version 1.3: Important fix: the source of the data changed their tags.
Version 1.2:
• Option to send very short email alerts for cell phone users.
• The Aurora Oval image can now be resized. Use Cmd-0 (zero) to set back to default size.
• More interface tweaks and very minor bug fixes (GUI bugs).
Version 1.1:
• Added the ability to download and display the latest Aurora Oval North image from the NOAA POES satellite.
• Sending of email alerts are now threaded, and the preference to send email alerts is now remebered correctly.
• Some teeny tiny memory leaks have been patched up.
• Added NOAA POES Auroral Activity web link to menu. This is an excellent data source for current Auroral Activity.
• Other minor interface tweaks.
Version 1.0: Initial release. Whoot.

System Requirements:
Mac OS X 10.4 or higher, internet connection, brain.

Usage:
Cosmic Debris is 159% Freeware. Cosmic Debris may be freely distributed, as long as no fees are collected for it. You do not have to contact StimpSoft™ or the author for permission to distribute this application. Actually, I would prefer it if you just left me alone. Really.

Download Cosmic Debris 2.0
Requires Mac OS X 10.4.x
Size: 332k

Download Cosmic Debris Source Code
Size: 248k

Download Cosmic Debris 1.7
(for Mac OS X 10.3)