Geomagnetic Storms May Light 25 U.S. States as Expert Urges 3-Second Smartphone Aurora Shots

3 articles · Updated · Forbes · Jun 4

Strong to severe geomagnetic storms could make aurora visible across up to 25 U.S. states on June 4-5, prompting fresh advice on how to capture the display with a phone.
Smartphone cameras can also help spot faint aurora before the eye can confirm it, with several-second exposures revealing green or red color in what may look like a gray cloud.
Night Mode, the main lens and RAW or ProRAW settings are the key tools, while flash should stay off and exposures of about 3 to 10 seconds can pull out more detail.
A tripod or any stable surface matters most because steadier phones allow longer exposures and cleaner images; adding landscape or people can give the shot context and scale.

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