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We can't make them appear with the flick of a switch, but we can provide one of the best spots on earth to see them. Beautiful and mysterious curtains, the colors range from green to red to purple, with the brightest and most common color, a yellow-green. Fairbanks sits under what is called the auroral oval, a ring-shaped region around the North Pole. Our location offers a great balance of occurrence, frequency and activity. Intensity varies from night to night, with the best viewing from late evening through the wee hours of the morning, late August to April.
See the Northern Lights from a heated "aurorium" cabin, on an overnight dog sled trip, by snow cat tour to a panoramic vista, on a horse drawn sleigh, or on a flight above the Arctic Circle. Ask the front desk for a wake-up call; if the aurora appears, they will awaken you. No guarantees, but the longer you're here, the better your chances of seeing a great display. |
- Displays take place as low as 40 miles above the Earth's surface, but usually begin about 68 miles above and extend hundreds of miles into space.
- Clear skies and darkness are essential to see the northern lights. If you stay 3 nights in Fairbanks, you have an 80% chance of seeing them.
- Almost all planets in the solar system have an aurora of some sort.
- An aurora borealis monument marks the exit of Fairbanks International Airport.
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 "I came to Alaska to study the effects of the aurora on the surrounding atmosphere. Although that happened for me 19 years ago, Alaska continues to attract highly qualified scientists and provide them with intellectual and physical challenges. This state is truly fertile ground for scientists in geophysics, wildlife and marine studies. Fairbanks is located in a most interesting natural laboratory. It is common to hear of volcanic eruptions and earthquakes in our state. However, injuries from geophysical events are few. Hence the term "laboratory," since earthquakes and volcanoes provide more opportunity than cause for regret. Also, we can study the meeting of continental plates, auroras, glaciers, sea ice, permafrost and many other geophysical phenomena close at hand. Our atmosphere is nearly pristine and regarded as a benchmark of purity in many studies of pollution. Having a research university located in Fairbanks encourages cultural benefits for locals and visitors alike. Music, theatre, festivals and concerts occur throughout the year and enjoy widespread support. For me these provide enjoyment as music lover and occasional performer." |
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Roger Smith, Director, Geophysical Institute |
View Northern Lights Photos | More Aurora Information
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