Once in a Lifetime Experience: Aurora Borealis

Have you ever had a "wow" traveling moment in your life?

It was 8pm on Friday, May 10. I was having dinner with friends at Richmond Hill, Toronto. Suddenly, my phone kept beeping. Overwhelming news popped up on my phone that an aurora would be expected to illuminate the sky in Toronto in a few hours due to the most powerful solar storm in more than two decades. With no hesitation, we decided to set off immediately to look for the Aurora Borealis.

1. What is Aurora Borealis?

Aurora Borealis is a luminous phenomenon caused by high-energy particles from the geomagnetic storm. It is also known as the Northern Lights. Aurora Borealis usually shows a pattern of colorful rays or curtains covering the sky.

2. Finding the best location

The first thing to do is find the best location, which is not difficult to find on social media. An open area in the north would be nice, preferably a lake or a plain. If the angle of the Aurora Borealis is relatively low, it will not be blocked by woods or other things. After a short discussion, we decided to go to Lake Simcoe.

3. How to take a photo with your smartphone?

If you want to take photos of the Aurora Borealis, you have to confirm that it is not a full moon. Fortunately, it was a waxing crescent moon that night. It gave us a better chance to see it clearly. Secondly, make sure there is no street light or other light pollution in the area, which is not easy in the Toronto area. Finally, a tripod is recommended. Any slight shakes would affect the quality of your photos. When everything is ready, change the shutter speed to 5-8 seconds (depending on the darkness of the area) or simply change to night mode. The rest you have to do is press the button.

While no green curtain was clearly visible to the naked eye as I would have imagined, I did see and feel the aurora dancing right over my head. I did not expect that our mother nature would have given me such a feeling of satisfaction and excitement on this ordinary day. This once-in-a-lifetime experience came on an unexpected, ordinary day, makes the usual Friday unusual, and marks one of the best "wow" traveling moments in my life.