How to Safely Watch the Total Solar Eclipse and Northern Lights During This Rare Celestial Event

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Having your viewers ready before eclipse day also means you can inspect them beforehand rather than discovering a damaged or missing pair when the eclipse has already begun.

A Smartphone Tripod Can Help After Sunset
If you plan to stay outside in hopes of seeing the northern lights, a compact tripod can be surprisingly useful.

Night photography requires the camera to remain still while it gathers light. Even small hand movements can blur faint aurora structures and stars. A tripod also lets you experiment with Night Mode and longer exposures without holding your phone perfectly still.

It isn’t essential for simply watching the sky, but it can make a substantial difference if you want to preserve what you see.

Keep Your Phone Charged
Your phone may become one of your most useful tools during the event.

You’ll potentially use it for weather forecasts, maps, eclipse timing, photography, NOAA aurora forecasts, navigation, and communication. Several hours of heavy use can drain a battery quickly.

If you plan to spend the afternoon and evening away from a reliable charging source, starting with a fully charged phone and carrying a portable power bank can prevent an inconvenient ending to the day.

Don’t Forget Comfort
Astronomical events involve far more waiting than people sometimes expect.

A lightweight folding chair, warm layer, water, and small flashlight can make a long observing session much more comfortable. If you’re waiting for auroras after dark, a red light flashlight can be particularly useful because it allows you to see nearby equipment without affecting your dark adapted vision as strongly as a bright white light.

None of these items makes the celestial event itself better. They simply make it easier to remain outside long enough to experience it.

One Date, Two Completely Different Wonders
The eclipse and aurora should ultimately be treated as two separate opportunities.