How to Capture the Northern Lights on Your Phone

🌌 All the Gear You’ll Need

1. A sturdy tripod (ideally carbon fiber)
Keeping your phone completely still is key for long exposure photography. Choose one that won’t shake or blow over in the wind (search for carbon fiber tripods).
(I got mine from Amazon for about £15 — it even came with a remote shutter controller.)

2. Warm, waterproof clothing
You’ll likely be standing outside for a while, so layer up. Think thermal base layers, an insulated jacket, waterproof boots, and gloves that work with your phone screen.

3. A power bank or extra charger
Cold temperatures drain phone batteries fast. Bring a power bank so you don’t miss the perfect shot.

📱 Phone Settings

Google Pixel

• Use Night Sight mode (it should automatically activate in low light).

• Tap the moon icon, then slide to the longest exposure (up to 6 seconds).

• For extra clarity, slide further right to activate Astrophotography mode (up to 4 minutes).

  • Astro mode only appears when your phone is completely stable — usually on a tripod.

  • It’s perfect for capturing stars along with the aurora, though the longer exposure means fewer shots.

  • Bonus: if you take multiple astro photos from the same spot, your Pixel will automatically create a short video of the aurora dancing.

• Turn flash off.

• Keep shooting as the aurora moves — you can review and edit later. The display might last only a few seconds!

Samsung (Pro Mode)

Switch to Pro Mode so you can control ISO, shutter speed, and focus manually.

Recommended settings:

• ISO: 1600–3200 – higher ISO helps in darker conditions

• Shutter speed: 10–30 seconds – longer exposure for faint auroras, shorter for bright ones

• White balance: 4000K – keeps the sky from looking too orange or blue

• Focus: 0.7–0.8 – keeps stars and auroras crisp

Turn off flash, keep your phone steady, and take several shots to increase your chances of getting a perfect frame.

iPhone

• Use Night Mode (it should turn on automatically in low light).

• Tap the moon icon and slide to the longest exposure (up to 30 seconds).

  • The 30-second option appears only when your phone is fully stable (e.g., on a tripod).

• Make sure flash is off, and keep taking multiple shots as the aurora moves across the sky.

• Review and edit later — the best lights sometimes last only a few minutes.

🌠 Tips for the Best Aurora Shots

• You don’t need to stay up all night. Auroras can appear anytime after dark. We mostly spotted them between 8 PM and 2 AM during our December and March trips.

• Go when your aurora app sends an alert and the skies are clear — they can fade in minutes.

• Get away from city lights for the best visibility.

• Dim your screen to preserve your night vision.

• Give your eyes time to adjust — at least 5 minutes. Don’t give up too quickly; your phone camera can often pick up what your eyes can’t.

• Expect subtle colors. At first, the aurora may look like pale, glowing clouds. Some people see more vivid greens and purples depending on their night vision — for example, I mostly saw grey-green tones, while my husband saw bright greens and purples.

📲 Helpful Apps

• Aurora App – Track KP index, monitor cloud coverage, and get real-time aurora alerts.

• Eraser Tool – Quickly remove unwanted objects from your photos.

• Photo Editing App of Your Choice – Adjust exposure, contrast, and highlights to bring out the aurora’s natural color.

Final Thought

You can capture incredible Northern Lights photos on your phone — no DSLR required. With the right gear, a little patience, and the right settings, your camera can turn a fleeting natural wonder into an unforgettable image.