Look up. Know where to face.
How to photograph northern lights in the UK
A usable northern view and a steady camera are good starting points. Plan the position before working on settings: a colourful photograph cannot recover an aurora hidden by cloud or a blocked skyline.
Find your northern viewing directionPhone: start with a steady night-mode image
Support your phone securely and try its night mode if available. Use a timer to reduce movement from pressing the shutter. Inspect the result and adjust exposure using the controls your phone offers. Camera behaviour varies by model, so treat the first image as a test rather than a universal setting.
Camera: test focus and exposure
Use a tripod, a wide lens and manual focus, checking a distant star at magnified view. Begin with a wide aperture and take a test exposure; adjust shutter speed and ISO for the brightness and movement you see. Shorter exposures retain more structure in a fast-moving display; longer ones can blur it. Recheck sharpness rather than relying on the lens's infinity mark.
Compare the photo with the view
A camera may record colour more strongly than your eyes. A green or purple photograph is not proof of a similarly vivid naked-eye display; cloud and urban lighting can also colour an image. Watch for changing structure and consult current activity. Save your viewing plan to return to the same composition on another night.
Your night. Your northern horizon.
Select a starting city, then tap the map or drag the pin to where you will stand. All times use UK local time.
↑ Face north · 0° true
Green dashed line = north-facing guide
Inverness · 57.4778, -4.2247. North is a starting direction, not a prediction of where an aurora will appear. During strong activity, check overhead and other directions too. This map does not assess cloud, horizon obstruction or darkness on the ground.
Inspect this viewing position in OpenStreetMap ↗Darkness for this viewing pin
Night of 2026-10-08 → 2026-10-09 · UK local time
- Sunset
- 18:35 GMT+1
- Civil twilight ends
- 19:13 GMT+1
- Full astronomical darkness starts
- 20:44 GMT+1
- Full astronomical darkness ends
- 05:29 GMT+1
- Civil dawn
- 06:59 GMT+1
Full darkness is a planning aid, not a required start time: a bright aurora can show during twilight. There is no fixed aurora arrival time. No crossing means that solar threshold is not crossed on this date.
Moon at local midnight: 3% illuminated · below the calculated horizon. This does not describe the whole night.
Cloud at your chosen time
Cloud forecast unavailable
Forecasts cover the provider's available dates. Missing data does not mean clear skies.
1. Check activity
Read the current AuroraWatch UK status and the Met Office outlook. This planner does not display a live geomagnetic alert.
Check current AuroraWatch UK status ↗2. Check the sky
Cloud can hide the display. Compare the local cloud estimate above with a current forecast for your route and viewing position.
Check the Met Office cloud map ↗3. Check the horizon
Use the north-facing guide, then assess buildings, hills and trees in person. Choose a familiar accessible spot and check local access and weather.
Read AuroraWatch UK's direction advice ↗Choose the frame before it gets dark
Use the north-facing map to choose the direction of your shot, then inspect your foreground at the location. Keep lamps out of the frame where possible. Calculate twilight to allow setup time and check cloud for the hour you intend to photograph.
Nikon's aurora photography guidance ↗What will you actually see?
A faint aurora may look like a pale glow or band by eye. A camera can record colours your eyes do not pick up as clearly. Try a steady phone night-mode photo, but do not treat colourful photographs as a promise of the same naked-eye view. Look for changing structure; ordinary cloud and urban skyglow can also colour a photograph.
When should I arrive?
Use sunset and twilight times to plan access and set up before it is fully dark. Leave time for your eyes to adapt, keep screen brightness low and recheck activity. The calculated darkness window tells you about sunlight, not when a solar storm will arrive.
Aurora forecasts, regional guides and practical advice
Northern lights questions
Can a phone photograph the northern lights?
It may, depending on the phone and the display. A steady support and night mode can help.
Is there one best shutter speed?
No. Adjust for brightness and movement, and inspect a test image.
Why are my stars blurry?
Check manual focus and camera movement. Long exposures can also show star movement.
Will I see the same colours by eye?
Not necessarily. Cameras can show colours that are faint or hard to distinguish by eye.
Should I use flash?
Flash cannot illuminate an aurora. Keep nearby lights low and consider other viewers when setting up.