I read this book a couple years ago, it's a good read and really resonated with me.
http://www.amazon.com/Photographs-Not-Taken-Will-Steacy/dp/0983231613
Well last night I had my own experience. Last night I was soaking in a hot tub at the hotel I stay at when I'm in Denali for work and as usual there were a few light green bands of the northern lights out. Then they got big for about an hour between 12 and 1, and right around 1230 they cranked up and went crazy. Pinks and purples and white and green. There was this amazing color burst that looked like a cloud of fairies swirling around that lasted 5 seconds tops, the whole big color show maybe 5 minutes.
My camera? 300 yards away in its case, plus I'm in a hot tub. Tripod? Back in Fairbanks. Sometimes you just get to enjoy the moment.