When nature meets technology: Phone cameras bring the Northern Lights to life during solar storm

Stunning images of the Northern Lights – visible as far south as Arizona – have been made possible, in part, by the dark mode photography features on our cell phones.

The aurora borealis, a phenomenon usually relegated to the northernmost parts of the globe, is lighting up the skies thanks to a massive G5 category solar storm that is expected to continue until Sunday.

While skywatchers report naked-eye visibility in areas of the U.S., those who struggle to see natural brightness may have a powerful tool in their pocket. Michael Bettwy, chief of operations at NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center, said people can take a photo of the phenomenon to get a clearer view.

“You may not be able to see it with the naked eye, but if you have a clear night with few clouds and you hold your phone facing the sky, you might get an image or two,” Bettwy said in a Friday Briefing.

I don’t know what’s more impressive… the Northern Lights or the fact that I took this photo with an iPhone!?

📍Delaware Water Gap PA/NJ#Northern Lights #pawx #njwx #Aurora pic.twitter.com/IVl1TWxDGK

-Simon Wachholz (@SimonWachholz) May 11, 2024

According to Brent Gordon, head of SWPC’s space weather services branch, the technology in our phone cameras – the long exposure feature known as dark mode or night mode on many devices – will allow amateur photographers to see the auroras.

“Things the human eye can’t see, your phone can,” Gordon said at the briefing. “It will be interesting to see how far south we are imaging auroras.”

Cross this off my bucket list! The Aurora Borealis, also known as the Northern Lights. Here’s how to put your i Phone in dark mode for best results. pic.twitter.com/XuE7ObFxVf

-Jeff Oechslein (@JeffWTOV9) May 11, 2024

The colorful displays caused by disturbances in Earth’s magnetic field caused by solar particles were exacerbated by the storm, which triggered an influx of “coronal mass ejections” and expanded visibility as far south as Tucson, Arizona.

A quick edit tonight before going to bed. I’m speechless. I finally took a photo I’ve wanted for 8 years, after seeing the Northern Lights for the first time in Iceland. And tonight I finally got to see them in Tucson, Arizona… FOR 8 HOURS… pic.twitter.com/veAccCdYZE

-Sean Parker (@seanparkerphoto) May 11, 2024

If you have a dark mode photography feature on your phone, you can take a photo of the aurora on Saturday and Sunday nights before the solar storm ends. According to Hello Aurora, a northern lights tracking service, using a tripod and turning on a feature like night mode or a longer manual exposure time create ideal conditions for photos in addition to choosing a dark environment. and free from light pollution.