Historical data shows that auroras occur more often during the spring and autumn equinox.

Photographers told National Geographic that wide-angle lenses, an aperture or F-stop of four or less and a focus set to the farthest possible setting are recommended for capturing the northern lights. If using a smartphone, it’s recommended to turn on night mode and disable flash.

The aurora borealis, or northern lights, are ribbons of color that occur with the interaction of charged solar particles and the Earth’s upper atmosphere. Last year, they were the most active they’ve been in two decades, even making a rare appearance in some of the Lower 48 states.