# It Was a Surprise, to Put It Mildly: Capturing the Northern Lights with a Foldable Phone
It was a surprise, to put it mildly.
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## A Fortuitous Discovery
With everything happening lately, I had no idea there was a possibility of witnessing the [Northern Lights](https://www.androidcentral.com/phones/may-2024-northern-lights-pixel-8-pro-galaxy-s24-plus). Earlier in the year, I had the chance to see this spectacular sight, but unfortunately, I missed it. This time, though, fortune was on my side.
Last evening, as twilight faded into night, I was mindlessly scrolling through my social feeds when I came across several posts discussing a solar storm in progress. Curious, I decided to head outside, hoping to catch a sighting of the Aurora Borealis. Sadly, my efforts were in vain—there was nothing to be seen by the naked eye.
Then it occurred to me that it was still possible to “witness” the Northern Lights using a camera, even if they were invisible to the human eye.
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## The Magic of Technology: Introducing the Pixel 9 Pro Fold
Excited to verify this idea, I grabbed my [Pixel 9 Pro Fold](https://www.androidcentral.com/phones/pixel-9-pro-fold-changed-my-mind-about-foldables-but-i-still-prefer-flip-phones), opened the camera app, and switched it to Night Sight mode. I pointed the device towards the sky, and to my astonishment, the camera revealed what appeared to be a delicate streak of magenta across the dark backdrop. I was ecstatic!
However, I realized I could achieve even better results. I needed a tripod for more stability during a longer exposure. Unfortunately, my eight-month-old son was sound asleep, and I didn’t want to risk waking him by searching through drawers for a tripod.
Suddenly, it dawned on me: I didn’t need a tripod—the Fold could act as a tripod.
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## A Foldable Phone as a Photography Asset
The distinctive design of the Pixel 9 Pro Fold enabled me to position it on the wooden railing of my back patio, angled just right to steer clear of my neighbor’s porch lights. After several minutes of meticulous alignment, I was set to capture the night sky.
Using the phone’s [Astrophotography Mode](https://www.androidcentral.com/apps-software/how-use-astrophotography-mode-google-pixel), which requires about four minutes for a proper shot, I stood as
