Where to see the northern lights in Estonia
Estonia lies south of the auroral oval, so the lights show during geomagnetic storms, low over the northern horizon. The best views are from the north coast and the islands, looking out over the Gulf of Finland or the open sea: Lahemaa, Hiiumaa, Saaremaa.
- Kp today
- up to 4.7
- May reach tonight
- 3 of 5
- places at Kp up to 4.7
Places in Estonia: Kp needed and season
The Kp needed and the season are calculated from coordinates. "Tonight" uses today's peak Kp and the season; clouds are on each place's page.
| Place | Kp needed | Season | Tonight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tallinn | 4.5 | August to April | may reach |
| Lahemaa National Park | 4.5 | August to April | may reach |
| Hiiumaa | 4.5 | August to April | may reach |
| Saaremaa | 4.9 | August to April | won't reach |
| Tartu | 5.1 | August to April | won't reach |
How to photograph the northern lights with a phone
A recent phone is enough: what matters is keeping it still and a long exposure.
Night mode
Turn on the camera's night mode. An iPhone held perfectly still offers exposures up to 30 seconds by itself; on Android use "Night" or "Night Sight".
Tripod or support
The phone must stay still: a tripod, a backpack, the car roof. Use a 3-second timer so tapping the shutter doesn't blur the shot.
Manual mode
If you have "Pro": a 5–15 second exposure (shorter for fast-moving aurora), ISO 800–3200, focus at infinity, white balance around 3500–4000 K.
No flash, no lights
Switch off the flash and dim the screen. Step away from streetlights — eyes and camera adapt to the dark in 15–20 minutes.