How I Photograph The Northern Lights With My Phone — By An Expert

InnovationScienceHow I Photograph The Northern Lights With My Phone — By An ExpertByJamie Carter,Senior Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. An award-winning reporter writing about stargazing and the night sky.Follow AuthorJun 04, 2026, 01:19pm EDTJun 04, 2026, 01:20pm EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.With “strong” and even “severe” northern lights forecast for North America on Thursday and Friday, here’s how to photograph aurora with a smartphone.gettyCan you take pictures of the northern lights with a phone? It’s a timely question today, with space weather forecasters warning that “strong” to “severe” geomagnetic storms could cause displays of aurora in up to 25 U.S. states on Thursday, June 4, and Friday, June 5. The good news is that not only is it easy to take pictures of the northern lights with a phone, but it’s also a great tool for spotting their arrival. Forbes‘Severe’ Northern Lights Alert For 23 States On Thursday And FridayBy Jamie CarterNorthern Lights Photography With A SmartphoneI’ve photographed aurora over frozen lakes in northern Sweden and snow-covered mountains in Iceland, and captured some of the brightest displays I’ve ever seen in Churchill, Manitoba. I use all kinds of cameras, including manual cameras, GoPros and 360-degree gadgets. What surprises most people is that I often begin with a very simple piece of equipment: my smartphone. Just a few years ago, using a smartphone for astrophotography would have sounded ridiculous. When I first started chasing aurora a decade ago, smartphone cameras were virtually useless after dark. Today they’re so sensitive that professional aurora guides — like me — often use them to check whether a faint glow in the sky is actually the northern lights. Can I tell without a phone? Usually, yes — but it’s always best to check before waking up guests. This is exactly what you can...