Aurora Borealis

An aurora is a natural light display in the Earth's sky.  They are also known as the Northern Lights.  Auroras are most commonly seen in high-latitude regions and appear as curtains, rays, spirals or dynamic flickers.  The term "aurora borealis" comes from the Greek language where "aurora" means "sunrise" and "boreas" means "winds".  In Roman mythology, Aurora was the goddess of dawn.  The combined phrase "aurora borealis" therefore means "dawn wind". 

The Northern Lights are mesmerizing ribbons of light that have fascinated humanity for thousands of years.  Despite their serene beauty, this breathtaking display results from a highly energetic and turbulent process. Alaska , given its location, is typically considered the best place in the United States to view the Northern Lights.  Situated under the "Aurora Oval", a band that hugs the polar region where auroras are most concentrated, Fairbanks offers an exceptional chance to witness the aurora borealis.

This year, 2024, the Northern Lights were seen as far South as Tennessee and other southern States.  Be ready when the lights reach the shores of Lake Erie as they did in the year we are about to usher out.   Access the hidden settings menu in an iPhone's camera app by tapping the top arrow.  Locate the NightMode icon and adjust the exposure time slider to the maximum, typically 30 seconds for tripod setups.  This extended exposure time allows your iphone to capture the full brillance of the Northern Lights. 

If your smartphone has a "Night Mode" feature, that should be good enough to get more than an impressive souvenir shot to share with friends and family whether you have an Android or iPhone.  

A common question is .. Do Northern Lights look like they do in pictures?  On a really good night you might see the red tones, but the light our eyes see is very different to what our cameras can assemble.  The camera can pick up sooooo much more.  Seeing so many Aurora photos online these days really does create an expectation for people that can't always be matched or met.

Look Up and Good Luck!