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Guidebook for Alaska Adventure Travel |
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Although the magnetic field that creates the lights is active all year long, the long daylight hours of summer make the lights difficult to see. The best time to view this spectacle in Alaska is from August to April and the best Alaskan location for viewing is Barrow to the north and Fairbanks to the south of the Arctic circle.
Northern Lights named
by Galileo:
The northern lights have had
a number of names through history. The scientific name for the
phenomena is Aurora Borealis, which is Latin and translates into the
red dawn of the north. It was the Italian scientist Galileo Galilei
(1564-1642) who first used the expression. On the latitude where
Galileo was living, northern lights consist of mainly red color.
Photo Tips:
Digital photography is the way to go these days. Being able to
see the picture on the back of the camera can easily tell you if you
need more exposure time or less. You will need a camera that can
stay open for 20 seconds or more and a tripod. Set the camera lens on a small aperture and use
a cable release. Some cameras have a remote control. Use it if you
have it. The less chance of any movement the better.
When to see them:
Best Months: The sky has to be dark which means the lights unfortunately can't be seen in summer. The best months are March and September; that's when there are: 1) frequent displays, 2) clear skies, and 3) generally mild weather.
Best Time of Day: Start looking about an hour and a half after sunset. But peak auroral activity is between 10pm and 2am solar time. Solar time is 2.5 hours after clock time during daylight savings time (April through October) and 1.5 hours after during standard daylight time (November through March). That means the best time for seeing the aurora during winter is 11:30pm-3:30 am with the peak at 1:30am. During spring and fall (September and March), the best time is 12:30am-4:30am, with the peak falling at 2:30am.
The Right Conditions: If it's clear and dark enough to see stars, there's a chance you'll be able to see the aurora. Get away from city lights and hope for a clear night-if there's a heavy overcast, you won't be able to see it. Partly cloudy skies? You have a chance, but it needs to be a strong aurora for you to see it. But even if the sky is crystal clear, auroral activity varies greatly from night to night.
Where
to See the Northern Lights:
The Fairbanks area is the
most likely place to see them from on any given night. Hordes of
Japanese tourists decend on Fairbanks over the winter just to see
the Aurora Borealis. Just north of Anchorage, away from the city
lights, is a good place too. In Alaska, they can be seen as far
south as Ketchikan.
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