[jeleh]

https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/aurora-30-minute-forecast

Why is the "Approximate Energy Deposition" (!= visibility?) on the side facing the sun much lower than on the side facing away from the sun? Shouldn't it be about the same?

[throwway120385]

It might have something to do with the shape of Earth's magnetic field lines and the way they extend away from the sun but are compressed toward the sun. Aurora, in turn, is caused by the spiraling of charged particles that are captured in these field lines and since the field is stronger on the dark side of earth it seems reasonable that you would see more particles on the dark side. We're casting a wider net there.