{"id":2224,"date":"2025-07-16T17:21:54","date_gmt":"2025-07-16T17:21:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aurorasaurudev.wpengine.com\/?page_id=2224"},"modified":"2025-08-28T18:24:55","modified_gmt":"2025-08-28T18:24:55","slug":"faq","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/blog.aurorasaurus.org\/?page_id=2224","title":{"rendered":"FAQ"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Aurorasaurus Help Topics<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Use the + buttons below to read more to answer questions about the Aurorasaurus website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n<div data-foldup=\"no\" class=\"bg_faq_content_section\">\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"map\">Map Help<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>How do I control the symbols on the map?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The legend in the lower right corner of the Aurorasaurus website allows you to control what you see on the map. You can click the check marks to turn specific markers on or off depending on your preferences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>What are the symbols on the map?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Current Oval Estimate: Satellite data and modeling based on the OVATION Prime model from the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.swpc.noaa.gov\/\">NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center<\/a>, superimposed on Google Maps, indicate that auroral activity is currently strongest in the red, yellow, and green region as indicated by the color scale. If your region is covered and it is dark outside, go take a look at the sky! Even if you are equatorward of the oval, you may be able to view the aurora. Aurora are sometimes visible from a few hundred miles south of the oval if you look at the northern horizon.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>View Line Estimate: A red line equatorward of the Current Oval Estimate that calculates a predicted extent to which the aurora might be visible. Your reports help to <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/full\/10.1002\/2015SW001320\">ground-truth this line<\/a> and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/full\/10.1002\/2016EA000167\">improve forecasting models<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Positive sighting: A green plus indicates that a participatory science report was filed by someone who saw the aurora.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Negative sighting: A red minus indicates that a participatory science report was filed by someone who looked for the aurora, but did not see it.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Unverified Tweet and Verified Tweet refer to legacy reports prior to 2023.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ambassador Network: A yellow star indicates the location of a member of the Aurorasaurus Ambassador Network.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The grey areas on the map show increasing levels of darkness: civil twilight, nautical twilight, astronomical twilight, and full nighttime.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Can I see data, maps, and pictures of prior aurora?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yes! In the top right-hand corner of the map, you can select a specific date and time. This can be helpful to confirm your observations. Backdated reports are also welcome!<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<div data-foldup=\"no\" class=\"bg_faq_content_section\">\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"account\">Account Help<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>I do not have any social media accounts. How do I register with Aurorasaurus?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To make an Aurorasaurus account, you must log in through Facebook or Google. The Aurorasaurus website do not require you to be logged in to access content. If you would like to be added to the newsletter list without registering an account, please contact us at <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"mailto:aurorasaurus.info@gmail.com\">aurorasaurus.info@gmail.com<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>I forgot my login. What do I do?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Your login is tied to your Facebook or Google account. If you have any issues logging in, please contact us at <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"mailto:aurorasaurus.info@gmail.com\">aurorasaurus.info@gmail.com<\/a>. Please note that the \u201cthird-party cookies\u201d browser setting must be enabled for login. Twitter login is no longer supported, but email us and we can port your data to a new login.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>What are notifications and how do I control them?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Registered users can opt to receive two kinds of email notifications: one when a model predicts aurora may be visible in their area, and one when nearby users report seeing aurora.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To change your preferences, log in on the main webpage and access your profile. Simply check (or uncheck) the box that says \u201cReceive E-mail Alerts.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You may change the email address where you would like to receive location-based aurora notifications. By default, the email address will be the one tied to the Facebook or Google account that you used to create your account and log in to Aurorasaurus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You may also change the location for which you would like to be notified if you travel or relocate.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Can I change my username?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No, your username is assigned when you set up your account.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Can I change my profile picture?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yes, go into your settings and click \u201cEdit Profile Picture.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>How do I delete my account?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">1) Go to <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"http:\/\/aurorasaurus.org\">Aurorasaurus.org<\/a> and click the Log in button.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">2) Click the My Aurorasaurus tab in the upper right to bring up your account.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">2) Under your profile photo, click Edit Account Settings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">3) Click the grey box that says Delete Account and follow the prompts.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Does Aurorasaurus still have X\/Twitter reporting?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Twitter (now known as X) API changes affect many scientific initiatives like Aurorasaurus. Going forward, the best way to make aurora reports is directly to <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"http:\/\/www.aurorasaurus.org\/\">www.aurorasaurus.org<\/a>. The advantage of direct reports is that you can backdate them after a good night\u2019s sleep, and there\u2019s no limit on how far back you can go. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.aurorasaurus.org\/?p=1882\">All reports are helpful<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<div data-foldup=\"no\" class=\"bg_faq_content_section\">\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"leaderboard\">Leaderboard Help<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>How does the Leaderboard work?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Leaderboard recognizes Aurorasaurus users who have earned the most points. The Leaderboard identifies the All Time point leaders.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>How do I earn points for my contributions on Aurorasaurus?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Earn points for being active on the Aurorasaurus website! The Leaderboard recognizes the top Aurorasaurus users. Aim for the top and your name will appear!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Create an Aurorasaurus account: 100 points &nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>File a citizen science report (positive sighting): 100 points. Reports are limited to 100 per day.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>File a citizen science report (negative sighting): 50 points. Reports are limited to 100 per day.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The number of points you have earned appears on your profile page. Under certain circumstances, points may be awarded manually to specific users, for instance Aurorasaurus contest winners!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>What are badges and how do I receive them?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Badges identify your status among all Aurorasaurus users. Your badge status can change every <strong>month<\/strong>, depending on how many points you earn and how active other users are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;You are a Level 1 Aurorasaurus user. You have 125 points.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;You are a Level 2 Aurorasaurus user. You are in the Top 30% of all users for the last month.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;You are a Level 3 Aurorasaurus user. You are in the Top 10% of all users for the last month.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u200b &nbsp; &nbsp; You are a Level 4 Aurorasaurus user. You are in the Top 2% of all users for the last month.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Since your badge status resets every month, you must stay active to maintain your badge level and remain at the top!<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<div data-foldup=\"no\" class=\"bg_faq_content_section\">\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"bug\">What if I encounter a bug?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can report any bugs to <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"http:\/\/bit.ly\/aurorasaurus-web-bug\">http:\/\/bit.ly\/aurorasaurus-web-bug<\/a>. Thank you for helping Aurorasaurus!<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.aurorasaurus.org\/?page_id=1730\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/blog.aurorasaurus.org\/?page_id=1730\"><em><strong>Back to menu<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Aurorasaurus Help Topics Use the + buttons below to read more to answer questions about the Aurorasaurus website. Map Help How do I control the symbols on the map? The legend in the lower right corner of the Aurorasaurus website allows you to control what you see on the map. You can click the check&hellip;&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/blog.aurorasaurus.org\/?page_id=2224\" rel=\"bookmark\">Read More &raquo;<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">FAQ<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":[],"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","neve_meta_sidebar":"","neve_meta_container":"","neve_meta_enable_content_width":"","neve_meta_content_width":0,"neve_meta_title_alignment":"","neve_meta_author_avatar":"","neve_post_elements_order":"","neve_meta_disable_header":"","neve_meta_disable_footer":"","neve_meta_disable_title":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2224","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.aurorasaurus.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2224","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.aurorasaurus.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.aurorasaurus.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.aurorasaurus.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.aurorasaurus.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2224"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blog.aurorasaurus.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2224\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.aurorasaurus.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2224"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}