City
Seeing the northern lights from Anchorage
Anchorage sits at 61.9° magnetic latitude, under the auroral oval. On a clear, dark night the northern lights can be overhead even when the Kp index is near zero.
Dark hours by month
Hours each night with the sun at least 12° below the horizon, on the 15th of each month.
The dark-sky season runs from September to April. From May to July the sky never gets fully dark, so aurora is effectively out of sight. Geomagnetic activity also tends to run higher around the March and September equinoxes.
What each storm level means here
The higher the Kp index, the farther the oval spreads toward the equator.
- Kp 9G5 extreme storm: aurora overhead from Anchorage
- Kp 7G3 strong storm: aurora overhead from Anchorage
- Kp 5G1 minor storm: aurora overhead from Anchorage
- Kp 3Unsettled: aurora overhead from Anchorage
- Kp 1Quiet: aurora on the horizon from Anchorage
Questions about the aurora in Anchorage
Can you see the northern lights in Anchorage?
Yes. Anchorage is under the auroral oval, so aurora is visible on many clear, dark nights during the season, often overhead.
What Kp index do you need to see the aurora in Anchorage?
About Kp 0.0 for aurora on the northern horizon and about Kp 2.3 for aurora overhead. These come from Anchorage's magnetic latitude of 61.9°.
Which direction should I look for the aurora in Anchorage?
Face north-northeast (19°), toward the magnetic pole. That is where the aurora rises first. In a strong storm it can spread across the whole sky.
What time of night is best for the aurora in Anchorage?
Activity often peaks around magnetic midnight, which falls near 2:05 AM local time in Anchorage in December. The two hours either side are the best window.
When is aurora season in Anchorage?
The dark-sky season runs from September to April. From May to July the sky never gets fully dark, so aurora is effectively out of sight. Geomagnetic activity also tends to run higher around the March and September equinoxes.