Diligent sky watchers thrill at the prospect of seeing the aurora - that rare phenomenon that, unlike the stars, shows itself only transiently outside of the arctic regions. As an auroral scientist and night-sky enthusiast, my passion for studying aurora extends to a passion for communicating its cause and effects on planet Earth. In this talk, I will guide us through the physics that cause the sky to glow with vibrant colors — from solar winds and magnetic fields to atmospheric interactions. Ever wondered if the colors indicate something specific? Or if you might be able to see aurora from your backyard? I will explain the scientific cause of different colors and types of aurora and provide a guidebook on how to have the best chance at observing this otherworldly light show with your own eyes and cameras - especially relevant for the continuing activity of our current solar cycle. Amateur aurora-watchers have been instrumental in our evolving understanding of the science behind auroras and I will cover some new and ongoing work that citizen science has initiated.