I learned some time ago that the aurora are often much much more visible through a phone screen, even if you are not taking a long exposure picture. The camera computer can catch and express the reds and purples better than our cones and rods can in low light. The phones make it easy to do a 10 sec exposure and catch really cool stuff these days, even without a tripod.

Last night, the best I could see with my eyes were faint streaks and glows. The phone really brought it out.