Never seen the Northern Lights before...or the Southern ones either. I’ll have my camera ready and hope for clear skies.
Fishing in Canada one evening we ran our boat aground because we were looking up at the northern lights. We actually drove the boat through about 50 yards of reeds growing in the shallows before we got stuck in the muck.
You will need to be very far north, usually above (or below I suppose) the 45th parallel, be situated in a place FAR AWAY from any light pollution whatsoever (including farm lights,) and you'll need a tripod on your camera with a long exposure if you hope to photograph it.
I have seen the northern lights from both northern Michigan and southern Idaho two or three times in my life, and each time they have been very dim to the naked eye.
You might have better luck closer to the Arctic Circle, I don't know.
I remember seeing the aurora borealis (as my Mother use to call it) in southern Ohio, in the early 50's.. But light pollution is so bad now we can hardly see the stars at all.. I haven't seen the Milky Way in years..
I will never forget my trip to Fairbanks back in the winter of 1969. In the USAF, we were TDY for two weeks there. I enjoyed the time there. My crew chief spent the entire time drunk as a skunk.
On our last night there, we were preparing to leave. He, griping about how he hated the time there(he never left the base) and how he had not even seen the Northern Lights.
I simply said...”Well, look up.”
Above us the Northern Lights had been displaying it’s glory for the last two weeks, but he never even thought to simply look up.
Ooh, Northern lights as far south as NYC. Wonder what the losers will have to say about lights inna sky.
If only some would claim it is “climate change” — “Umm, so you think the sun is behind changes in earth’s climate? Let’s talk about that.”
Naah.
SNOWING here in N Nevada.
Hope you have a tripod and the ability to hold the aperture open for 10 seconds or more...
Best of luck as aurora pux are so beautiful.