This was back in 2016, a really epic northern lights. It always looks a bit brighter in pictures but this one was very bright IRL as well, and even had some purple.
Bonus picture from the same day:
I guess that depends on the person, but when I saw them it was more like a magical/otherworldly experience, kind of like being in the path of totality during a total eclipse-the world seems different. Then again, I had been living in Alaska for nearly a year hoping every day to see them. They really do dance across the sky. Really fun experience I hope you get to see them if that’s what you want.