Exact phone camera settings to capture Northern Lights in the UK tonight

The Northern Lights were last in UK skies in September last year and many Brits were excited to see them for the first time in months – but there were some who were left disappointed

The Northern Lights are set to grace UK skies tonight – but special settings need to be enabled to capture the moment on an iPhone. The Met Office’s space weather forecast predicts that the lights will be visible across most parts of the UK from tonight to Wednesday night.

While northern Scotland and northern England are typically the best spots to witness the Aurora Borealis, with good visibility, the lights could also make an appearance further south, according to the Met Office.

This celestial spectacle is due to increased solar activity, as a swift coronal mass ejection (CME) departed the Sun late on Sunday night and is expected to reach Earth either late on Monday or early on Tuesday, September 2. Forecasters anticipate this event to boost geomagnetic activity, creating conditions that could allow the lights to be seen further south than usual.

Many Britons expressed frustration when they could not capture what they were seeing the last time the aurora borealis visited in September. However, a photographer has now revealed expert techniques for documenting this extraordinary phenomenon.

An interactive map created by Lancaster University researchers pinpointed the precise locations where the celestial display was photographed on September 13. Scottish residents living along the coastline were treated to the magnificent sight, alongside some fortunate observers in Cornwall and Devon.

The Met Office generated widespread enthusiasm amongst the public, posting on X: “You might want to look up at the sky tonight because there’s the chance of seeing the aurora. Clear skies for most overnight will make for ideal viewing conditions, with sightings possible across Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England.”

Officials recommend the optimal viewing window falls between 11pm and 5am, provided cloud cover remains minimal. However, photographing the phenomenon presents its own challenges.

A snapper identified as Wil Photography disclosed that specific mobile devices can simplify the process.

“If your phone has night mode simply use that and either use a tripod or lean it against something for 10-15 seconds exposure, click on screen to focus on distant bright star and that should work,” he advised in a Facebook post.

“If not then download an app called nightcap camera for iPhone or Open camera for Android. With settings – iso 2000 lowest number for f and shutter speed around 10 seconds, again using a tripod, make sure you focus on a distant bright star.

“Camera on manual mode and manual focus, take off image stabilisation/vibration control, place camera on tripod, focus manually onto a distant star,” he continued. “Settings to start with iso 3200, shutter speed 10 seconds, aperture as wide as your lens can go (f2.8 etc).

“Use the widest lens you have so you can have longer shutter speeds – 14mm , 20mm 24mm etc. If you don’t have a fast lens, then ramp up your iso, do not increase your shutter speed beyond 10 seconds as you will get star trails using a 35mm lens and above.”

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