Aurora season in alaska

The aurora belt in alaskas great interior and arctic regions is among the most active in the world, and there are few other places on earth so suited for an aurora borealis vacation. Alaskas northern lights season is between midseptember and late april, peaking in march, though thats to do more with the long, dark nights than solar activity. Aurora season september 04, 1991 carla helfferich as soon as the august rains let up, people living in interior alaska could see the aurora or northern lights again. Many travelers come to alaska to see the aurora borealis, more commonly called the northern lights. These images and videos should give you a feel for what its like to be under the dark skies and aurora. If your main goal in visiting alaska is to see the aurora, be sure to plan your trip several months before or after june 21st the summer solstice each year. Note that during the spring, the skies of iceland and scandinavia are usually clear. The 21 best places to see the northern lights in alaska 2019. Peak viewing season is in the dead of winter, when the weather is the coldest and when it is the darkest.

But wait, there are two equinoxes, spring and fall, with similar magnetic geometry. August 21april 21 check back frequently to see how uptotheminute, realtime aurora viewing opportunities change based on current aurora activity, weather and daylight. A dramatic time lapse of the stars and aurora just outside of fairbanks, alaska during aurora season. The milky way collides with the aurora borealis in hoonah, alaska. Simply put, the best time to see the aurora borealis is during cold months. Fairbanks north star borough, alaska steese highway photo usage and permissions. Jan, 2020 a dramatic time lapse of the stars and aurora just outside of fairbanks, alaska during aurora season. If you visit alaska in november, december or january, you will experience a very short period of daylight providing a unique experience in the high northern hemisphere. Combined with a slight preference for better weather in spring than in fall, this means that late february to early april are usually considered the best aurora viewing months in alaska. The alaska railroads aurora winter train runs through spectacular vistas on the way to prime destinations for viewing the northern lights, or aurora borealis. Aurora borealis northern lights the aurora is a beautiful, if hard to predict, phenomenon, occurring yearround. The northern lights are a natural phenomenon that have to be seen to truly be appreciated. The best time for seeing the aurora during alaska s winter is 11.

By the second week of august, the night sky is dark enough to potentially allow views of the aurora. The most reliable chances to see alaskas northern lights also known as the aurora borealis are in fairbanks, and above the arctic circle. Nov, 2017 combine that with a higher chance of clear skies in alaska during spring, and march at an inland location is the best time and place to maximize your chances of seeing the northern lights from alaska. Ride the alaska railroad south to talkeetna, where you can explore the town and check in for the night at the famed talkeetna roadhouse. The viewing season lasts almost seven months, so the best time to seek the aurora really depends upon what else you want to do during your visit. Myth theres no known way for human technology to turn the naturallyoccurring aurora on and off. An eskimo tale records that the northern lights are spirits playing ball in the sky with a walrus skull. When charged particles from the sun strike atoms in earths continue. Fall is the absolute best time to view the aurora in alaska. Travelers from all over the world come to alaska to see this stunning display and take advantage of other winter experiences like snowmobiling, dog mushing, skiing, festivals and sporting events. This video assimilates timelapse shot over the incredible 20142015 product. Travel alaska top things to do in fairbanks chase the. Includes guided ground tour one way, flight oneway, and overnight accommodations. Alaskas northern lights season is between midseptember and late april, peaking in march, though its a season defined more by its long, dark nights than by.

What i can tell you is that when i stayed at denali the same time last year, i was told it was right on the edge of northern lights season. Another legend, calls them the flaming torches carried by departed souls guiding travelers to the afterlife. Alaska train will take you through the northern lights. Generally speaking, the aurora borealis will remain very active for two to three years either side of solar maximum which effectively means that the current maximum has just passed its. The 21 best places to see the northern lights in alaska. Explore fairbanks, alaska during aurora season august 21. The dancing lights can appear on any dark, clear night in alaska although the prime aurora season is from midaugust to midapril. In fairbanks, auroraviewing season is in full swing.

During one of our tours last season, the best auroras weve ever experienced played out across the night sky just as the setting sun was settling into bed on. December 2019 posted in travel highlights tagged alaska, aurora season, northern lights, usa in alaska aurora season is from august 21 to april 21. Alaska has so much natural beauty to offer, but its no surprise that one of the most soughtafter experiences for tourists is seeing the spectacular display of the aurora borealis. Around the time of the equinox, earths magnetic field is best oriented for connectingup with the sun, opening the door for solar wind energy to flow in and spark northern lights.

May 01, 2018 fairbanks location is ideal for northern lights viewing because it is under the auroral oval, a ringshaped zone over the far north where aurora activity is concentrated. Aurora overnight adventure northern alaska tour company. Dec 24, 2017 usa canada in fairbanks, auroraviewing season is in full swing usa canada fla. The continental locations in russia, alaska and western canada under the auroral zone statistically have the clearest skies. During these swing months, we recommend the all night aurora tour, pick up 10. These wonders define the city, along with winter activities, the gold rush past, alaska native heritage, a vibrant arts scene and golden heart hospitality.

The bright dancing lights of the aurora are actually collisions between electrically charged particles from the sun that enter the earths atmosphere. Jul 16, 2014 during one of our tours last season, the best auroras weve ever experienced played out across the night sky just as the setting sun was settling into bed on february 18th. I returned to my hotel room and sat by the window, hopeful. Fairbanks aurora season is from august 21 to april 21 and the aurora will be visible in fairbanks an average of four out of five nights when the sky is clear and dark enough. Indie alaska i am the aurora hunter indie alaska season. Alaskas northern lights season is between midseptember and late april, peaking in march, though its a season defined more for its long, dark nights than for solar activity. After dinner there, youll walk or snowshoe to the river, visit with a local aurora expert, and watch for more northern lights. For the best chance on seeing the aurora borealis, come visit during the prime viewing season between september and march.

I went to alaska in winter to see the northern lights. A short drive north on the steese highway just past the city lights of nearby fairbanks, alaska, offers stunning viewpoints of the aurora borealis from august to april each year. Season 2 episode 6m todd salat was born an iowa country boy, making his way to the mountains as often as possible. The northern lights or aurora borealis is one of the most famous alaskan symbols, so dont miss a chance to see this rare and spectacular phenomenon. Alaska northern lights tours aurora borealis tours. Prime time in alaska runs from midseptember through late april. If you want to give yourself the gift of adventure this holiday season, you can spend christmas under the northern lights beginning on christmas eve dec. The emerald river the aurora shines off a tidal river in hoonah. Though we are a relatively new aurora tour service, we are no strangers to the alaska visitor industry, with over 30 years experience guiding folks on multiday wilderness tours across alaska and russia during the warm weather season. Aurora borealis realtime tracker explore fairbanks alaska.

Fairbanks the aurora borealis serves as one of the marquee symbols of the northern latitudes. Aurora borealis season in northern polar latitudes alaska, northern canada, greenland, iceland, norway, sweden, finland and siberia runs from augustthruapril. The interior especially fairbanks and far north regions are considered the best in alaska for northern lights viewing, although the aurora can be spotted anywhere in alaska. Northern lights tours in alaska best aurora viewing. The northern lights tracker gives realtime and threeday forecasts of aurora data correlated to six different locations near fairbanks, alaska. My friends at northern alaska tour company say coldfoot is just in the right place, the arctic ova, where the lights are born. The northern lights are more prevalent during solar maximum the last of which occurred in june 2014. Beverly, aurora borealis, the colored lights seen in the skies around the north pole, the northern lights, from bear lake, alaska, beautiful christmas scene, winter star filled skies, scenic nature via flickr cc by 2. Fairbanks northern lights tours truth about aurora viewing.

Your guide to seeing the northern lights in alaska smithsonian. Forecasting the northern lights means predicting solar activity, which is. Where to see the northern lights in alaska westmark hotels. The aurora borealis makes frequent appearances in the winter. Mar 29, 2018 aurora dora piled into her car and, with a shrug of a smile, drove off. Aurora prediction and northern lights forecast aurora hunter. Aurora season september 04, 1991 carla helfferich as soon as the august rains let up, people living in interior alaska could see the aurora or northern lights againat least the nighthawks could. Areas near the magnetic north pole see the most brilliant displays, which become more intense as the temperature drops. Its aurora season in alaskas far north alaska travelgram. If youre staying at a lodging as opposed to camping, i would enquire as to whether they offer a. The ethereal northern lights, also known as the aurora borealis, meaning north wind of the dawn, brighten the night sky in a mystical display of color. Many of the people trekking north to alaska in winter come to witness the aurora borealis. The lights are seen above the magnetic poles of the northern and southern hemispheres. The auroras sevenmonth season spans from late summer to early spring, with possible nighttime temperatures ranging from the summery 60s to subzero cold.

Watch the indie alaska video i am the aurora hunter. Sep 24, 2018 the northern lights light up the arctic nights from the top of alaska down to anchorage. After more auroraviewing, youll be back in fairbanks at about 4 am. Once youve seen the skies in alaska youll agree that fall is the best time to view the aurora in alaska. We are alaska s premiere northern lights and winter wilderness adventure tours. The number one consideration when planning a trip to see the aurora in alaska is traveling at the right time of the year. Interior alaska is, in fact, one of the best places in. The aurora borealis is a staple of alaskan winters, as common as. Youll be amazed by the beautiful, clear starlit nights and the brilliant colors that ignite the sky.

Northern lights denali national park and preserve forum. As an avid aurora chaser i dont like to miss a show. Aurora borealis and star gazing denali national park. Northern lights tours in alaska best aurora viewing vacations. Autumn august to october as the summer winds down, days become shorter and cooler. Scientifically speaking, the aurora is dancing above yearround, but we can only see it during the aurora season when we have dark enough skies. On the northern lights ecotour, guests stay near fairbanks, alaska while chasing the aurora. Welcome to my gallery of aurora borealis the northern lights. Visit the last frontier between now and midapril for the best chance to see the dancing lights. Although it can be spotted almost anywhere in the state, including its largest city anchorage, the best place for viewing is fairbanks. Alaska is one of the best places on earth to see the northern lights colorful bands of light that dance in the dark night sky. During the summer months of may, june and july it is just too bright to see them in the far northland. There are opportunities to see the northern lights at the tail end of the summer season in early september, but if this experience is a priority for you, hold out for winter and bundle up. Depending upon cloud cover and weather, alaska nights can be dark enough to highlight great auroras between midaugust through midapril.

The aurora tracker is a oneofakind tool for predicting the chances of seeing the northern lights during aurora season, august 21 april 21 if traveling or in the fairbanks, alaska area. Because of extended daylight hours in alaska, late spring and early fall aurora tours will have adjusted pick up times. Canadians walking their dogs after dinner, scandinavians popping out to the sauna, alaskan huskies on the iditarod trail all they have to do is look up and behold, green curtains of light dancing across the night sky. The first question you may be asking is, when is the best time to view the northern lights. Caused by supercharged solar particles colliding with the earths atmosphere, these ethereal streamers of green, white, purple, blue and even red light draw awestruck travelers from all over the world. Northern lights hunt in alaska almost all year round.

Alaska is located so far north that your chances of seeing the northern lights in the summer months are basically zero. Alaska is one of the best places in the world to see the northern lights, or aurora borealis, dancing overhead. What exactly you do will depend upon the date you arrive. The season has gotten off to an early start, as aurora were spotted in late august and periodically through september already. The great alaska teams fly into anchorage at will compete at grace christian hs to see who is. The best time to visit alaska for the aurora borealis. As youll learn in this section, if you try to visit alaska during the wrong season, your chances to see the northern lights are nil. Aurora charters provides fishing charters in seward, alaska for halibut, salmon, rockfish and lingcod. For the best views, venture away from city lights to creamers field, cleary summit or other aurora hot spots. We have five vessels in our fleet, and we can accommodate both full day and half day salmon only fishing charters.

In february and march, there are longer daylight hours for you to enjoy with. Forecasting the northern lights means predicting solar activity, which is virtually impossible with our current technology. The arctic circle aurora overnight adventure departs from fairbanks by land or air and offers optional aurora viewing, dog sledding, and brooks mountain range excursions from your base camp at coldfoot, alaska. Your guide to seeing the northern lights in alaska. The best strategy to see the northern lights is to hang out for a few days in a prime location coldfoot. Churchill, manitoba has one of the heaviest concentrations of auroral activity on earth, making it an ideal destination for a northern lights tour. For ideas, start with three of our advice pagesthings to do in alaska, winter vacation tips and alaska travel tips.

When the darker nights return to southcentral alaska in late fall, our eyes turn to the skies. Each northern lights tour with gondwana is timed to align with the auroras activity. Only in the fall, winter and early spring, however, is there enough darkness to allow us to see the northern lights when they occur. Its far north location means fairbanks gets the midnight sun in the summer and the northern lights during aurora season august to april. Our arctic circle aurora adventures spend multiple nights in coldfoot, alaska directly under the aurora oval.

Clear skies are a requirement, so you should try to choose a location and a season that is blessed with the clearest skies. We are alaskas premiere northern lights and winter wilderness adventure tours. When is the very best time to see the northern lights. When the northern lights are out, a gondwana guide will wake up guests so they can experience the magic. This image of a pale aurora is incorrectly called a proton arc by many photographers and aurora chasers. The rarest aurora is the red aurora, like the one of february 11, 1958, which is still talked about today. Best time to see northern lights in alaska 2020 when.