I’m a northern lights-chasing expert and these are 10 things I think you need for your next expedition

Have you seen the northern lights yet? There are two ways to approach aurora-hunting — you either wait for a rare, strong geomagnetic storm to bring a display to you, or you travel north to the Arctic Circle. Either way, September to March is aurora season in the Northern Hemisphere, but you need to do more than watch the NOAA forecast and/or travel north to see and photograph the northern lights successfully. Although smartphones are now an excellent tool for capturing auroras, keeping them steady is crucial because long exposures are essential. What’s more, the phenomenon occurs during dark, cold nights, which brings challenges — from being able to safely operate a camera and move around in the dark to staying warm and hydrated while the aurora dances in front of you.

Here are 10 things that actually make a difference on an aurora-chasing trip, so you can see and enjoy the best the night sky has to offer. Here’s everything you need for your next aurora chase.

Summary

You’re now ready for whatever the northern lights put you through. Without these and similar products in your aurora arsenal, you’ll get cold, lose confidence and come back with underwhelming images. For more in-depth advice on photography gear, see our articles about the best camera phones for astrophotography, best cameras for astrophotography, best lenses for astrophotography and best wide-angle camera lenses.