A Step-by-step Guide to Successfully Chasing the Aurora Borealis

by Julie Boyer August 08, 2024

Have you ever seen the Aurora borealis or northern lights in person? For many it's a bucket list item and in this blog post, I'm going to share with you my best tips on how to prepare to witness them. My phone of choice is the Google Pixel 7 Pro, so all of this is based on my experience using an android operating system. I live on Vancouver Island, at approximately the 49th parallel. The further north you are, the better your chances of seeing them. We are in what's called the solar maximum, which creates more opportunities to see the aurora further south than expected.

Most auroras are best seen through a camera lens - why is this? The simple answer is that the camera can see much more than our eyes. In order to observe the brilliant colors that are created by the aurora borealis we must rely on our phones or digital cameras. Depending on the strength of the solar storm, the aurora may appear to the naked eye as white streaks in the sky or occasionally as dancing green lights on the horizon. Rarely, one might see the sky glowing pink, as happened on May 10-11, 2024.

Preparing for the event:

This can be done weeks in advance or even the day before a predicted event.

Find a spot to view the night sky, away from light pollution. You're looking for an open horizon, facing northeast. By a lake or the ocean makes for great reflections, however it's not essential.
Get a tripod for your phone or camera. If you're using a phone, a taller tripod is best, however a smaller one with shorter legs can be used in a pinch. Test it out ahead of time as you'll want to mount your phone in the horizontal position as opposed to the usual vertical style normally used for social media.
Practice using night mode or astrophotography (only on Google Pixel phones). For those using a digital camera, this article may be helpful for guidance on settings. Turn on gridlines on your phone camera to help you line up the horizon accurately.

Tools to help you predict when there will be an aurora:

My favourite place on Facebook is the BC Aurora Enthusiasts Group. I've learned a tremendous amount about how to spot the aurora from the group mods and contributors.
I also use a number of different apps to help me determine whether an aurora may occur.

Aurora is a great app for beginners. It will alert you when conditions are favorable and often others in your area will post an aurora sighting while it's happening.
MLB Aurora is fantastic for those who want a bit more detailed information, including a longer range forecast, as well as weather conditions, moon phase and cloud cover potential.
spaceweatherlive.com is great for the day of, as well as information about solar activity and storms. It also has an alert feature.

Aurora Borealis are predicted for tonight, now what?

Check the upcoming cloud cover modeling. You can view it in the MLB App or using the Astrospheric app. Fewer clouds is ideal, although sometimes a bit of cloud can reflect the aurora in interesting ways.
Moon phase is also critical, as a full moon rising at dusk will wash out the aurora. Most weather apps will be able to tell you this info.
Verify the overnight temperature and wind speed so that you can dress appropriately for the evening and not suffer with frozen fingers and toes.
Find out what time the golden hour ends, usually an hour after sunset. I use the Weawow weather app which includes sunset and moonrise times, as well as moon phase.
Charge your devices! I made this rookie mistake last time and had to charge my phone in the car, missing about thirty minutes of the show. Bring back up batteries for digital cameras and possibly a portable charger for your phone.
Follow spaceweatherlive.com for the most up-to-date information, including the potential Kp, G rating and what the Bz is doing.

What do these terms mean?

Kp index: The K-index, and by extension the Planetary K-index, are used to characterize the magnitude of geomagnetic storms. Kp is an excellent indicator of disturbances in the Earth's magnetic field (source). The scale ranges from 1-9. Here on Vancouver Island it usually has to be above a 4 for us to see the aurora. The massive world-wide event in May of 2024 was a rare Kp9.

G rating or Geomagnetic Storm Scale: The NOAA Geomagnetic Storm Scale indicates the severity of geomagnetic storms. It is denoted by a G followed by a number from 1 to 5, with 1 being a minor event, and 5 being an extreme event (source). The above mentioned event was a G5. Locally, a G1 or G2 rating means a good chance to see the aurora.

The north-south direction of the interplanetary magnetic field (Bz) plays an important role in the formation of Northern Lights. When the north-south direction of IMF flips south, the magnetic field lines connect to the earth’s magnetosphere which faces north. A rift opens that allows the solar wind to pour into our magnetosphere. Bz becomes negative, for example –10nT, which is a good sign that auroras will start to appear (source). We want to see the Bz go south or negative. Note that the Bz can flip often so if the Bz is north, don't lose all hope!

Even with all of that data, “the sun is 150 million km away, there is always room for error,” to quote Rob Romeyn, moderator of the BC Aurora Enthusiasts Group. Sometimes you just have to go and see for yourself.

What to bring to make the best of your experience:

An extensive list of things I may choose to bring along.

Comfy chair
Tripod, I often bring an extra along in case a friend needs it.
Blanket
Camp mat and pillows, great for looking up at the night sky and watching for shooting stars if the aurora isn't exciting.
Extra layers, the temperature can drop quickly after sundown and in the wee hours of the morning, everything seems to get a layer of dew on it.
Water or tea, caffeine not recommended unless you're close to a restroom.
Swim gear for a late night dip with possible bioluminescence.
Snacks
Red light for your headlamp or small flashlight. Do not turn on your phone's flashlight around others, it can ruin a long exposure image.
Bug spray
TP just in case.

A few more important details:

Tell someone where you're going and approximately how long you'll be out. Better yet, rope in a friend or two to join you.

Arrive at dusk to get set up. It's much easier to adjust your settings when it's still light out.

Be patient. First aurora are usually visible an hour or more after sunset. Enjoy looking for shooting stars or searching for your favorite constellations in the meantime.

When it's time to take pictures:

Line up the horizon using the grid line function on your phone camera.
Use Night mode for 10 seconds of exposure, this is why a tripod is essential.
If you have a Google Pixel phone, the Astrophotography setting is the best, it will give you a photo and a one second time-lapse after gathering information for four minutes. Patience is required and the results are incredible.
Swivel your camera around as needed, more towards the north or shift it south. Don't be afraid to move your tripod as well in order to change the foreground.

Post production:

Congratulations you did it!! You got to see the aurora! Now it's time to edit your photos. I like the PicMonkey app, but any photo editing app is great. Colour levels will need some editing to bring out the more vivid tones. Be careful not to over edit and wash out the colours. Some contrast is necessary to make the colours pop.

Lastly, like any new skill, you'll get better the more times you head out. My own photography had gotten much better after a dozen attempts to see the aurora. Every outing I learn something I can improve on for the next opportunity. Remember to enjoy being out in nature, watching the starry sky and spending time with friends as crazy as you.

If you made it this far and want to stay connected, I send a sunrise (and occasionally an aurora) photo with a gratitude quote each day via email. My 2025 Vancouver Island Seascapes Calendar is available now and will ship out in the next 5-8 business days.