Where to go in alaska to see northern lights

What is the best month to see the northern lights in Alaska?

Best Time to See the Northern Lights in Alaska Alaska’s northern lights season is between mid – September and late April , peaking in March , though it’s a season defined more by its long, dark nights than by solar activity.

Can you see the northern lights in Alaska right now?

Yes, you can see the northern lights , also known as the aurora borealis , from Anchorage – but not in the summer. The aurora actually occurs all year long, but the sky needs to be clear and dark to see it. Views are best from September to April. Winter is the prime viewing time.

Where and when can you see the northern lights in Alaska?

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. Scientifically speaking, the aurora is dancing above year-round, but we can only see it during the Aurora Season when we have dark enough skies.

How much does it cost to see the northern lights in Alaska?

Most tour companies will pick up guests from any Fairbanks hotel or accommodation as part of the package price. Evening tours run from 9 p.m. to about 4 a.m. and average $75 to $85 per person, while more extensive tours like the Northern Alaska fly/drive Arctic Circle viewing tour begins at $269 per person.

What is the best month to go to Alaska?

When is the best month to visit Alaska? You can’t go wrong visiting Alaska anytime between May 10 and September 15. The days are long, nature is in full bloom, and the air is alive with energy. But, for the absolute best time to visit Alaska, shoot for June 15 to July 15.

Are the northern lights better in Alaska or Iceland?

Coldfoot, a town in Alaska’s Brooks Range mountains, offers the best chance of witnessing the Alaska Northern Lights . With a slightly longer season than Iceland , stretching from mid-September through late April, Alaska is a great no-passport-required option for U.S. residents.

Can you predict Northern Lights?

Using real-time solar wind data from Nasa’s ACE spacecraft, matched with data obtained from a network of magnetometers located worldwide, we are able to forecast , with reasonable accuracy, how the Northern Lights will behave up to one hour in advance. The image shows estimated aurora activity now.

Where can I see Northern Lights in 2020?

What are the best places to see the Northern Lights ? Tromso, Norway. Based in the heart of the aurora zone in the Norwegian Arctic, the city is widely regarded as one of the world’s best places to see the Northern Lights . Swedish Lapland. Reykjavik, Iceland. Yukon, Canada. Rovaniemi, Finnish Lapland. Ilulissat, Greenland.

What month is best to see the northern lights?

But here’s the good news: The time is right to get a glimpse of the aurora borealis . Thanks to longer hours of darkness and clear night skies, December through March is usually the best time to observe this elusive natural phenomenon (though you can sometimes see the northern lights starting as early as August ).

What is the most beautiful part of Alaska?

Unspoiled Alaska : The 7 Most Beautiful Places to Visit Denali National Park. First view Denali, North America’s tallest peak, from Wonder Lake, where The High One is jaggedly reflected in the still waters. Katmai National Park and Preserve. Matanuska Glacier. Kodiak Island. Tatshenshini-Alsek River. Lake Clark National Park and Preserve. Wrangell St.

How much will a trip to Alaska cost?

A typical 7-day Alaska vacation costs around $3000 per person—a little over $400 per day.

Can you see the northern lights with the naked eye?

Our naked eye can most easily see the green-yellow part of the spectrum where the sun emits most of its light . Green is the most common color observed but the Northern Lights can also appear white-gray. Sometimes the Northern Lights are even present but not visible to the naked eye .

Is 2020 a good year to see Northern Lights?

During the winter of 2020 , the Northern Lights viewing was typical for a solar minimum year . But from 2020 onwards, there will be a slow ramp-up in solar activity, and auroras should increase in frequency, peaking in 2024/2025 with the Solar Maximum. Read more about where to see the Northern lights here.

Do the Northern Lights happen every night?

There is no official season since the Northern Lights are almost always present, day and night . Caused by charged particles from the sun hitting atoms in Earth’s atmosphere and releasing photons, it’s a process that happens constantly.

What months is Alaska dark all day?

For example, in Fairbanks, the sunrise on this year’s summer solstice (June 20) is at 2:59 a.m. Sunset is at 12:47 a.m. the next day . For those two hours between sunrise and sunset, it’s basically dusk or dawn because it never actually gets dark . This all – day daylight occurs from May 17 through July 27 in Fairbanks.