Winter’s Unsurpassed Display of Northern Lights

January 11, 2008 | Tags: Northern Lights, Video

The residents of Fairbanks, Alaska are accustomed to spectacular views of the aurora borealis or northern lights. Most people view from their homes, but many travel out of town, away from the city lights for the most spectacular views. A dynamic aurora covers the entire sky, dancing wildly while flashing brilliant colors of green, whitish-blue, or even red.

The above aurora video was taken in Fairbanks last February. As well as a magnificent (mostly green) display, it shows chemical trails in the ionosphere; a result of test rocket fire from Poker Flat Research Range. Thank you Paul Jensen!

When is the best time of the year to view the aurora?

In Fairbanks, observations of the aurora may be made from middle to late August to middle April. The spring months of January, February, March and April are often the best time to view the aurora because of better weather, however, Fall can be just as cooperative weather-wise. The truth of the matter is, the northern lights can occur almost anytime.

What time of the day is the best time to see the aurora?

The time for viewing is between evening and morning civil twilights on clear or partly cloudy nights. Major storms can occur anytime, and local intensification is most common between 10 pm and 2 am.

Why Fairbanks?

Fairbanks sits under what is called the auroral oval, a ring shaped region around the North Pole where auroras occur. Statistically, Fairbanks averages 243 nights per year when it is possible to see the aurora.

More information?

Download additional aurora information, get answers to some frequently asked northern lights questions, or check the aurora forecast when planning your visit.