NASA’s Guide to Finding and Photographing Auroras

Auroras are one of our night sky’s most dramatic spectacles. With modern cameras and smartphones, photographing these beautiful displays is easier than ever. Digital camera sensors are incredibly sensitive and can even allow you to record auroras you can’t see with the naked eye.

Here is NASA’s quick guide with tips and tricks for helping you to see and photograph auroras. 

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An image of the sky, seen from below. Bands of green and purple fill most of the sky. One side is primarily purple, while the other is primarily green.

What Is an Aurora?

  • This coronal mass ejection (CME) erupted into space on August 31, 2012, traveling over 900 miles per second. It connected with Earth’s magnetic field with a glancing blow. For more CME visualizations, visit the Goddard Media Studios.
    NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) captured this coronal mass ejection on August 31, 2012, which created auroras on Earth three days later. For more images of this event: https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/11095/
    NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center

    Auroras, also known as the northern or southern lights, are colorful and dynamic displays that glow in the night sky.

    Auroras occur in an upper layer of Earth’s atmosphere called the ionosphere, but they typically originate with activity on the Sun. Occasionally, during explosions called coronal mass ejections, the Sun releases charged particles that speed across the solar system. 

  • There is a house, alone in an empty grassy field at night. Above the house are bands of green, purple, and pink aurora. In the distance, some lights can be seen.
    Colorful auroras form south of Carseland, Alberta.
    Neil Zeller

    Under the right conditions, these particles interact with Earth’s magnetic environment and cause a build-up of energy.

    When too much energy is pent up, the magnetic field lines snap and release energetic particles that follow magnetic field lines to rain down on Earth’s poles. When they strike atoms in the atmosphere, the energetic particles cause the atoms to glow, creating auroras. This happens more often and more strongly when the Sun is at its peak activity level in its 11-year cycle, called solar maximum.

What the Colors of an Aurora Reveal

  • In the foreground are snowcapped mountains. Against a blue sky, a bright purple, yellow, and green aurora fills most of the sky. Some clouds are scattered as well.
    A bright aurora seen above snowcapped mountains.
    Neil Zeller

    The various colors of auroras are created by different atoms and molecules in the atmosphere. 

    The various colors of auroras are created by different atoms and molecules in the atmosphere. When an energetic particle hits an oxygen atom, it releases red or green light depending on the energy of the oxygen atom. Nitrogen atoms and molecules emit blue and pink light. Depending on the mix of atoms and molecules in the upper atmosphere, auroras can blend to create other colors such as yellow and white. On reason red auroras are the most common color seen at lower latitudes is because the oxygen atoms that glow red are found highest in the atmosphere.

An infographic shows atoms and molecules, denoted as grey circles, in Earth’s atmosphere at different elevations about the ground. In the top band of the infographic, showing the region 120 miles above Earth, oxygen atoms turn red when struck by an electron, shown by pink dots and arrows. The next band down, stretching to 60 miles above the surface, nitrogen atoms turn blue when hit by an electron shown by a pink arrow. A secondary electron — another pink arrow leaving the blue electron — hits an oxygen atom which glows green. In the bottom band, below 60 miles, the pink electron arrows strike nitrogen molecules, shown as double circles, which turn pink. Vertical bands on the right side of the infographic show how these particle interactions create the colors of the aurora at different altitudes, from red high in the atmosphere to green in the middle and pink closer to the surface.
The colors of an aurora reveal where the lights were created as well as what atoms and molecules created them.
NASA/Aurorasaurus

How to Find Auroras

  • A photo of a pink and green aurora seen from below. On the right, bands of green fill the sky. On the left, bands of pink and orange fill the sky. Two treetops are on the right side of the image.
    A coronal aurora appeared overhead in southwestern British Columbia on May 10, 2024, during a strong solar storm that reached a Kp index of 9.
    NASA/Mara Johnson-Groh

    Auroras happen all the time but are most visible during solar maximum. 

    Since auroras typically originate with activity on the Sun, scientists can sometimes determine a day or two in advance that there may be a chance of seeing auroras. However, it’s not until the storm of particles reaches space weather monitoring satellites an hour out from Earth that scientists have a better grasp of the likelihood of auroras. At that point, scientists know the orientation of the Sun’s magnetic field, which is critical for understanding where auroras may be seen.
     
    The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Prediction Center runs an aurora dashboard that is a good source for checking forecasts. The Kp index is used by some to determine when auroras might be seen, but this metric is primarily useful as a rough guide of intensity, not for real-time or predictive timing for an event. This index assesses Earth’s geomagnetic field activity and ranges from 0 to 9, with higher values indicative of a greater likelihood of brighter auroras farther from the poles. In the continental United States, northern states can see auroras when the Kp index is as low as 4. Higher Kp indexes are needed for viewing farther south. Join a local, online aurora chasing group to learn more about seeing auroras in your area.

  • Auroras move across the sky above Swalwell, Alberta.
    Neil Zeller

    When auroras are likely, check your local weather forecast to ensure you’ll have clear skies and head to a safe, dark location.

    Plan your aurora viewing location in advance so you know where to go and can park in a safe location. Strong auroras can be seen even in big cities, but the best views will be in areas with little or no light pollution. If you live at a mid-latitude in the northern hemisphere, try to have a clear view to the north as the auroras may appear close to the horizon. 

    Be patient as you wait for the auroras. Aurora chasing is always a game of chance, so don’t be disappointed if your first outing isn’t successful. While displays can last all night, sometimes they are much shorter lived and can wax and wane in brightness throughout the night. During large events, auroras may be seen as early as sunset and as late as sunrise, but they usually maximize around midnight.

Packing For Success

  • A group of seven people stand in front of an aurora. They are jumping with their hands in the air. Behind them, the sky is mostly filled with the pink and green of an aurora.
    Members of NASA’s Moon to Mars Space Weather Analysis Office, who track solar storms for the agency, jumping for a photo of when aurora were visible in Maryland in October 2024.
    Kayden Etter

    As you’re getting ready to head out to photograph auroras, don’t forget to pack these essential items:

    – Extra camera batteries or battery pack for your phone. On cold nights, keep them in your pocket to keep them warm since cold batteries lose power quickly. 
    – Warm clothing layers and blankets, especially in the winter
    – Tripod to stabilize your shots
    – Red headlight to help maintain your night vision as you get set up
    – Snacks and hot beverages if you’re planning for a long night

Photography Tips for a DSLR or Mirrorless Camera

  • Bands of aurora fill part of a partially cloudy night sky. In the foreground, are snowy hills that lead to scattered lights in the distance. In the sky, the aurora appears as wavy bands — higher up, they appear purple and fade to green. In the middle of the image is a very thin, bright green vertical line that travels from the snowy landscape upward through the sky.
    Aurora in Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard on December 7, 2018. The green laser in the distance is the Koldewey Aerosol Raman Lidar that measures tiny particles in Earth's atmosphere.
    NASA/Joy Ng

    If you have a camera with adjustable settings, use a manual mode. 

    Cameras often have a hard time focusing at night so switch your camera to manual focus and set the focus at or near infinity. Take some trial photos and adjust your focus until you have the right focal length. When you’re testing your focus, you may be able to see the auroras before they are even visible to the naked eye.  
     
    NASA photographers suggest you start by setting your aperture as large as possible (such as f/2.8) to capture more light quickly. This is especially important if you want to capture small scale or fast-moving features. Wide angle lenses with large apertures (f/2.8) are the go-to choice for most aurora photographers. 

  • In the foreground is a yellow boat, stuck in snow in ice. There are also small buildings. In the sky, which appears dark blue with stars, are bands of green and purple aurora.
    Aurora in Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard on December 4, 2018.
    NASA/Joy Ng

    Next, set your ISO between 800 and 1600 and exposure time to between 5 and 10 seconds.

    If your shots are too bright, reduce the ISO or exposure time. If your shots are too dark, increase the ISO or exposure time. If the aurora is moving quickly, keep your exposure time down by increasing your ISO. However, beware of turning up the ISO too much as it can result in grainy photos. Every aurora is unique, so experiment with your settings until you get the photo you want.
     
    When selecting white balance, you may be able to use an automatic setting. If a test photo doesn’t look right to you, try 3,500K and adjust to your liking. Don’t worry too much about white balance while you’re shooting as it is easily adjusted in post-processing if you are shooting in RAW. 

  • At night, a camera is on top of a tripod. The camera is pointing upward toward the sky. Filling the sky are stars and swaths of green aurora. Trees fill the lower background.
    A tripod stabilizes a DLSR camera while it images the night sky.
    Neil Zeller

    Using a tripod can help you achieve crisp images when using long exposures.

    Additionally, you can use a delayed shutter release timer or remote to snap shots without jiggling the camera.

    Setting your camera to shoot RAW photos will make them easier to edit with post-processing software. When post-processing, it’s better to have underexposed photos so that color and detail are not lost.

    Before you head out to photograph auroras, make sure you are familiar with your camera settings and practice if needed. When you’re ready for an outing, bring extra batteries and memory cards if possible as well as a red light to help you adjust your settings while maintaining your night vision.

Photography Tips for a Smartphone

  • In the foreground, is a very dark landscape with trees and one tall light post. Above the landscape is a large swatch of aurora that fills the middle of the image horizontally. It is bright green toward the bottom and bright pink toward the top. Fill the top of the image is the night sky with some stars.
    These auroras were captured from Maryland with a smartphone on Oct. 10, 2024.
    NASA/Lacey Young

    Even if you don’t have a high-end camera, you can still take amazing aurora photos.

    Most newer smartphones have a “night” mode that can be great for photographing auroras. On some platforms, this mode will be automatically selected when the camera is opened in low lighting. If not, browse the settings in your camera app to find night or low-light setting adjustments.

    Since night mode settings use longer exposure times, photos can come out blurry if the phone moves while the photo is being taken. Using a tripod or leaning your phone up against a fixed object can help stabilize your shots. 

  • In the dark foreground, you care barely see cars and trees. Above that, huge swaths of pink aurora fill the sky. Closer to the trees the aurora turns green. Several stars are also scattered in the sky.
    These auroras were captured from Maryland with a smartphone on Oct. 10, 2024.
    NASA/Lacey Young

    Some smartphone cameras have “manual” modes.

    These allow you to select specific settings. Start with a large aperture (such as f/2.8 or as large an aperture as your smartphone will allow), an ISO around 800, and a 5-second exposure. Experiment with the ISO and exposure time until you find the right settings for your situation. If the colors don’t match what you see in the sky, try setting the white balance to around 3,500K and adjusting to your liking.

    If your camera doesn’t have a manual or night mode, you can try downloading a third-party app that can give you more control over your camera settings

Sharing Your Photography for Science

  • In the foreground is a flat body of water. Green aurora and stars are reflected on the water's surface. In the sky is a purple band of aurora traveling diagonally across the image from lower left to upper right. Parallel and below to it are vertical stripes of green.
    This photo captures the purple arc of STEVE and green “picket-fence” aurora.
    Neil Zeller

    There are citizen science projects on auroras, such as NASA and NSF’s Aurorasaurus, that utilize photos from the public.

    If you’re interested in sharing your photos for science, there are a few additional steps you’ll need to take. These projects typically require that you share your location and time. These records can allow scientists to determine the altitude of various aurora features, which can help in understanding how specific features are created.

    If you are interested in contributing to a citizen science project, visit their website in advance for tips and to ensure you record all the necessary information. When you register for an account with Aurorasaurus, you will receive alerts when the aurora is likely to be seen near you, as well as when others see it. You will also receive their monthly newsletter. If you don’t end up taking any photos — and even if you don’t see any auroras — you can still contribute to Aurorasaurus. Previous contributions have even led to new discoveries such as the aurora-like phenomenon known as STEVE, short for Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancement.

    By Mara Johnson-Groh
    NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.

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Last Updated
Nov 13, 2024
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Abbey Interrante

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