How to Photograph Northern Lights with iPhone? (Real-Time Calculator)

Stop guessing. Most “guides” give you static settings like “10 seconds exposure.”

This is often wrong.

The Northern Lights are a dynamic, moving subject. If the solar wind is fast, a 10-second exposure will result in a blurry green soup. If the moon is bright, high ISO will wash out your photo.

We built the Photon Engine below. It connects to 6 live data sources (NASA/NOAA) to calculate the exact shutter speed and ISO you need for the current conditions.

Our engine made specific decisions based on the live environment. Here is the breakdown:

1. The Shutter Speed (4 – 6 SEC)

This was calculated based on the Solar Wind Velocity (497.6 km/s).

• If the wind is >500 km/s: The aurora is “dancing” rapidly. We force a short shutter speed (1-3s) to freeze the motion. This preserves the defined “pillars” and structure of the lights.
• If the wind is <350 km/s: The aurora is a slow, static arc. We allow a long shutter speed (10s+) to gather more light without blurring the image.

2. The ISO Sensitivity (1600)

This was calculated based on the Moon Phase & Cloud Reflection.

• High ISO (3200): Used when the sky is pitch black. It maximizes sensor gain to see faint colors.
• Low ISO (400-800): Used when the Moon is bright (>50% illumination). If we used ISO 3200 tonight, the moonlight would turn the sky blue/white, ruining the contrast.

3. Hardware Safety (OPTIMAL)

Lithium-ion batteries rely on chemical reactions that slow down in the cold.
Current Temp: -1.5°C.
If the temperature drops below -10°C, your battery voltage will sag, potentially shutting down the phone at 30% charge. Keep the phone in an internal pocket against your body heat between shots.

1. The “Cross” Focus Trick
The iPhone struggles to autofocus on the dark sky. Point your camera at the brightest star (or a distant street light) first. Tap and hold the screen until “AE/AF LOCK” appears in yellow. Then, recompose your shot towards the aurora.

2. Shoot in RAW (ProRAW)
Go to Settings > Camera > Formats and enable Apple ProRAW. A JPG image deletes 90% of the color data. A RAW file keeps it all, allowing you to bring out the deep purples and pinks in editing later.

3. The Timer Rule
Even tapping the screen causes micro-vibrations that blur the stars. Set a 3-second timer. Tap the shutter, remove your hand, and let the phone stabilize before it takes the picture.