Taken around 11:30 Friday night, although the picture sure doesn't do the real thing justice
I found it was the opposite. I could barely see it with my eyes but when I took photos with just a phone it was colourful.
This was how it was for me. I didn't want to go off the beaten path to see it so there was a lot of light pollution, the auroras looked grey with a tinge of colour for the most part to my eyes.
If you can get your phone still and get a long exposure shot the photos turned out very nicely.
Community for the city of Vancouver, BC