We are witnessing one of the most active periods of the sun, with all that that implies. Solar storms are intense, there is a notable risk of telecommunications outages due to satellite damage and, on the most striking side of the solar event, we were able to enjoy the auroras at very low latitudes. And the forecasts indicate new geomagnetic storms for the coming days, you should prepare your cell phone to immortalize the auroras. Of course, whenever they occur, there is no guarantee that they will occur.
Did you also want to take photos of the auroras that crossed Europe last May? It was a historic event, you could see the sky dyed pink due to geomagnetic storms, something almost unprecedented in latitudes as low as Almería. Social media was full of images of aurora as well as videos. And if, like me, you missed them, we may have a new opportunity in the coming days.
How to know if there is a risk of aurora in the coming days
Image created with Midjourney
The Northern Lights (Northern Hemisphere) and Southern Lights (Southern Hemisphere) are closely linked to solar storms, which are powerful. plasma and radiation ejections from the solar corona. These ejecta carry magnetic fields that can pass through the solar system and interact with the Earth’s magnetic field.
When charged particles from the sun collide with our planet’s atmosphere, they excite oxygen and nitrogen atoms; release energy in the form of light. Depending on the altitude at which this interaction occurs, and depending on the type of excited atom, the auroras take on different colors and projections. Green and red are the most common.
We have already seen how auroras occur and that they depend on the intensity of solar ejections. Well: given that we are in a maximum solar cycle, the chances of auroras continuing to occur at low latitudes are very high. And to anticipate nothing like the application My aurora forecast, a solar event forecasting app that geolocates the phone to personalize upcoming warnings. It’s really good.
Given our geographical location, there is a good chance that next Sunday, the day of the European elections, there will also be a Sunday at dawn. Additionally, the app offers forecast maps, user images, photos of observatories with solar activity, and even the likelihood of clouds obstructing the view of the aurora. It’s free and only contains a few ads.
Forecast predicts chance of aurora in Barcelona for Sunday
My Aurora Forecast is a wonderful Android app for predicting solar events, ideal for showing up in the best possible location to enjoy them. However, it is generally not enough to pick up the phone and take the photo: to take a good image of the Northern Lights, it is advisable to carry out a very specific process.
Steps to Take the Best Aurora Photos
The Northern and Southern Lights They are visible at night and do not emit excessive light, two of the main problems of a device that must capture light to produce an image. And while it’s already difficult to photograph an aurora well with a professional camera, doing so on your smartphone can be an odyssey.
Lifting the phone and holding it can cause blurry photos, it is also important to adjust the shutter speed as much as possible. Given the small size of the photographic components of a smartphone, you should follow the following steps to get the best photos of the aurora:
- Put a tripod in your equipment. This is essential because the more static you keep the phone, the more options you have to capture as much light as possible. This could be a camera tripod or a selfie stick that has a tripod option. If it doesn’t take up much space, it will be easier to transport.
- If your phone has an astrophotography option, take advantage of it. Camera apps sometimes include modes to capture the night sky, like the Google Pixel or Samsung Galaxy. The active asset will allow you to guarantee minimum capture conditions.
- Take advantage of the image stabilizer. If you don’t have a tripod or a surface on which to support the phone (a simple rock can do the trick), the OIS of the phone’s built-in camera will be very useful. Choose night mode and keep the phone as still as possible while shooting.
- Night mode active. This mode uses stabilization, shutter speed and ISO to maximize the amount of light that reaches the sensor. This can be very useful for capturing aurora.
- Use manual camera settings. If your phone has Pro settings in the app, play with the shutter speed while keeping the phone on the tripod. Focus on the horizon, increase the seconds to maximum, shoot and check the result. That the image burns? Try to reduce the ISO sensitivity as much as possible. What still stands out too clearly? Reduce the shutter speed. And if the opposite happens, it works in reverse.
The key to taking a good photo of an aurora is Make sure the camera captures as much light as it emits as possible.. Maximum shutter speed, stability and play with ISO sensitivity until you get the perfect lighting balance. Since you probably won’t have much time if the aurora appears, it’s best to practice taking photos of the night sky. When you get bright, detailed photos, you’re ready.
Cover image | Modified mid-term
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