May 5, 2026
Northern Fights?
Did I photograph the Aurora or was it something else? (2016)
Sky glow or streetlight fail? The comments turned this aurora quiz into a cosmic argument
TLDR: The article gives a simple checklist for telling a real aurora from fake sky glows like cloud-lit streetlights. Commenters immediately turned it into a bigger cosmic debate, arguing over rare sky events, camera clues, and whether the best explanation is simply spirits in the sky.
A humble guide to one very relatable internet mystery — “Did I actually photograph the Northern Lights, or did my local football pitch catfish me?” — has sparked exactly the kind of comment-section energy you’d hope for. The original post keeps it practical: check AuroraWatch UK alerts, make sure it’s properly dark, see whether stars are visible, avoid light pollution, watch for movement, and remember that orange or yellow glows are usually bad news for your dream aurora shot. In short: not every spooky green sky is a magical space event. Sometimes it’s just lamps and clouds teaming up to embarrass you.
But the real fun is in the reactions. One camp basically said, “Actually, it’s more complicated than that,” with commenters diving into camera quirks, strange light rings, and other clues that might separate a real aurora from a fake-out. Another group brought in bonus sky drama, shouting out noctilucent clouds and STEVE, a rare purple sky phenomenon that sounds like a man from accounting but is very much a real thing. That led to the classic internet showdown: is the guide helpful and simple, or too simple for the sky nerds?
And then, naturally, someone cut through the science with the most elite take of all: “Actually its spirits dancing in the skies.” Which, honestly? Might be the only comment everyone can agree is iconic.
Key Points
- •The article provides a six-question checklist to help determine whether a photo shows the aurora.
- •AuroraWatch UK alert levels are presented as an initial indicator of whether aurora was likely visible in different parts of the UK.
- •The article says aurora is not visible during daytime and is less likely around dawn and dusk, with UK viewing most commonly occurring between 9pm and 12pm.
- •Cloud cover and artificial light pollution are identified as common reasons people mistake other sky glows for aurora.
- •The article says UK aurora often appears as a stable glow or arc near the horizon, most commonly in green with red or purple above, while orange and yellow are more likely from light pollution.