What's The Best Time Of Year For The Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis)?

[ManhattanCruiser]

In Alaska... how likely is it that one might see the aurora borealis? Is there a specific time of the summer when it's most likely? I'll be there the second week of September, and I'm hoping to catch a glimpse.

[Toto2Kansas]

In Alaska... how likely is it that one might see the aurora borealis? Is there a specific time of the summer when it's most likely? I'll be there the second week of September, and I'm hoping to catch a glimpse.

 

This might give you a little more information. It seems September is a good month if conditions are right.

 

http://alaska.org/aurora.jsp

[ManhattanCruiser]

This might give you a little more information. It seems September is a good month if conditions are right.

 

http://alaska.org/aurora.jsp

 

Toto... how is it you find exactly what I need? You are a miracle worker!

 

Now... if you could speak with God and get those Northern Lights going...it would be greatly appreciated.

 

:)

[Tina G]

Remember, it is light much later in Alaska. We were in Fairbanks during an August. DH decided he wasn't going to miss the northern lights, so he got up at 3:00 AM and waited. Sure enough, there they were. You are most likely to see them in the middle of the night.

[cigal]

Manhattan Cruiser,

 

Here is another good website for aurora forcasts. Make sure you are looking at the Alaska view.

 

http://www.gedds.alaska.edu/auroraforecast/

 

The farther north you are, the better. Also - many hotels will call your room when they see an aurora display. It will likely be in the middle of the night, like Tina G said, but they will call and wake you up if you ask.

 

If you are going to be near Fairbanks, look for Chena Hot Springs. They have an aurorium.....like a planetarium but for aurora viewing. The top is clear and the inside is climate controlled so you can be warm while you see the aurora.:)

 

Here is the link to Chena:

 

http://www.chenahotsprings.com/

 

Good luck - I hope you get to see some good displays. Seeing aurora is at the top of my bucket list.

[ManhattanCruiser]

Remember, it is light much later in Alaska. We were in Fairbanks during an August. DH decided he wasn't going to miss the northern lights, so he got up at 3:00 AM and waited. Sure enough, there they were. You are most likely to see them in the middle of the night.

 

Okay... good advice Tina. I'm a few feet from the doors to the aft pool, it'll be an easy thing to check.

[cigal]

Sorry Manhattan Cruiser,

 

I left this one off the last post

 

This is another website that has lots of good info on it:

 

http://climate.gi.alaska.edu/Curtis/aurora/aurora.html

 

Again, Good Luck!

 

Alice

:) :) :)

[timem]

Go to spaceweather.com Always shows extend of auroras at both poles. The extent of the Auroras are always determined by the "storminess" of the Sun. Right now things are not to stormy.