City
Seeing the northern lights from Fairbanks
Fairbanks sits at 65.6° 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 March. From May to August 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 Fairbanks
- Kp 7G3 strong storm: aurora overhead from Fairbanks
- Kp 5G1 minor storm: aurora overhead from Fairbanks
- Kp 3Unsettled: aurora overhead from Fairbanks
- Kp 1Quiet: aurora overhead from Fairbanks
Questions about the aurora in Fairbanks
Can you see the northern lights in Fairbanks?
Yes. Fairbanks 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 Fairbanks?
About Kp 0 for aurora on the northern horizon and about Kp 0.4 for aurora overhead. These come from Fairbanks's magnetic latitude of 65.6°.
Which direction should I look for the aurora in Fairbanks?
Face north-northeast (22°), 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 Fairbanks?
Activity often peaks around magnetic midnight, which falls near 2:05 AM local time in Fairbanks in December. The two hours either side are the best window.
When is aurora season in Fairbanks?
The dark-sky season runs from September to March. From May to August 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.