


For serious Aurora hunters in Alaska, March is considered the best time to visit because of the clearer spring skies. However, the darker winter months offer the best chances for Aurora viewing. It is even possible to view them in late August and September. Yes, You can view the Northern Lights in Alaska in October. Can you view the Northern Lights in Alaska in October? This is when the Earth is tilted perfectly in relation to the sun, so that its magnetic field and the solar wind are in sync. The best time to enjoy the Alaska Aurora season in Fairbanks is from September through early April. During the peak of the cycle, known as the solar maximum, geomagnetic storms occur more often.įor more information see the Wikipedia page for Geo Magnetic Storm. There is a sunspot cycle that will affect the frequency of geomagnetic storms. These disturbances that create the magnetic storm can be solar coronal mass ejections or a co-rotating interaction region, which is a high-speed stream of solar wind from from a coronal hole. These are caused either by a solar wind shock wave or cloud of magnetic field that interacts with the Earth’s magnetic field. What is a Geo Magnetic Storm?Ī geomagnetic storm is a temporary disturbance of the Earth’s magnetosphere. When plasma’s and electrons hit the atmosphere along these magnetic lines, they can produce these bright, amazing color displays. Learn more from NASA. The Auroral Oval is a huge ring above the Earth’s Geomagnetic North Pole created by the Earth’s magnetic fields. There are major airlines that fly to Fairbanks from all over America, including Alaska Airlines, Delta and United.Īlaska’s position close to the Auroral Oval is another reason it has a great view of the Northern Lights. The main advantage for most North American travelers is that Alaska is much easier to visit, making it the better choice for travelers in the United States, Canada and Mexico. These criteria make both Alaska and Iceland two of the best places to view the Northern Lights. It will need to be a cloudless night and preferably away from city lights. The ideal position for viewing the Aurora Borealis is north of 65 degrees latitude. The answer is that both offer incredible opportunities. If you’re wondering if Iceland or Alaska is better for viewing the Northern Lights.
