Spotlighting an Exclusive, Epic, and Gorgeous Northern Lights Viewing Point
If you are new here, welcome! If you are here from my Tromsø post, welcome back! I’m so happy to have you here!
So you want to see the Aurora Borealis? I don’t blame you!
The Ultimate Northern Lights Viewing Guide
It was on my travel bucket list for years, and I completed the quest to chase them! From sharing my experience on my social media, many of you have asked for a complete guide to the Northern Lights so you can have everything you need to ensure your successful capture of them! As always, you know your wish is my command!
So consider this your ultimate Northern Lights guide, and stick around for the end so I can give you the best viewing spot!
Science Behind the Northern Lights
So what are the northern lights, and what causes them? Simply put, the colorful dancing lights are crashing electrically charged particles entering Earth’s atmosphere from the sun.
This phenomenon is called the “aurora borealis,” or Northern Lights in the Northern Hemisphere, and the “aurora australis,” or Southern Lights in the Southern Hemisphere.
Aurora displays can range in color (red, yellow, green, and violet) and shape (arc, column, corona, and spiral). As mentioned above, a collision of gas particles causes Aurora, with variations in color depending on the gas. Nitrogen, for example, causes blue and purple-looking Aurora.
Check out the color spectrum courtesy of Web Exhibits. The Aurora Zone does an excellent job of explaining the color chart.
Color Chart Explained Here
That’s the Aurora in a paragraph. For my visual-learning followers, check out the video below, which explains the phenomenon much better than I do in only five minutes. My tour with Greatland Adventures showed me this video while on the drive to chase one night.
Aurora Explained Here
Forecasting the Aurora
Forecasting the Aurora is a complex process that involves more than just relying on a single model. It’s a combination of various factors that contribute to making accurate and optimistic predictions.
For a first-timer, it’s crucial to join a group photo trek that includes a forecasting fee. The experts on these tours have a better understanding of the forecasts and can guide you effectively.
I’ll share my tour recommendations later in the post. Let’s delve into some metrics Aurora chasers use to aid forecasting.
Daily Weather Forecast
This one may seem silly, but you need to check the weather forecast for an aurora chase. You need a night with clear skies, as an overcast sky will completely block your view.
It is also good to check the weather forecast to know where to go to find clear skies and how many layers you may need to wear. The temperatures can be very frigid in typical viewing areas, especially if you chase in the wintertime.
The weather app on your device is plenty sufficient, just make sure you are paying attention to the hourly forecast.
KP Index
The Planetary Index, more commonly referred to as the “KP Index,” quantifies disturbances in Earth’s magnetic field. It is measured using an integer from 0 to 9, with 1 indicating calmness and 5 indicating a geomagnetic storm.
Most people use the University of Alaska – Fairbanks Geophysical Institute website to check this measure every night. It shows how far south an aurora should be seen.
Although helpful, please don’t rely solely on this metric. It is not an indicator of the percentage chance of seeing the lights, a common misconception travelers have! I’m including an example screenshot below so you can see what it looks like!
GI Alaska: https://www.gi.alaska.edu/monitors/aurora-forecast
Solar Wind
This is one of the more straightforward metrics to follow. Chasers track current solar wind speed and density to predict aurora activity. The standard solar wind stream usually cruises at around 300 km/s, and Aurora chasers like to see this measure at 500 km/s or above, as geomagnetic storms are more likely to occur at these speeds.
Space Weather: https://spaceweather.com/
Where can you view the Northern Lights?
Where can you view the Northern Lights? The answer is as diverse as the lights themselves. While I’m sure you picked up by now that I’m referring to Alaska as the prime viewing location since that’s where I chased, there are other places that offer their own unique experiences.
The Northern Lights technically happen year-round, but Aurora viewing in the Northern Hemisphere is more likely from mid-August to mid-April when the sky gets dark enough to view the stars. All you need to see the lights is a dark sky that’s not overcast and a favorable forecast.
Most auroras happen in a band known as the ‘Auroral Zone.’ So, if you’d like to see the Northern Lights, choose a destination somewhere in this zone (map included below) or as close to the zone as possible. If geography isn’t your strong suit, choose a city in the green or dark blue portion of the map below.
Keep in mind that you may need to drive out of major cities to avoid light pollution. Below is a list of places you could choose for your aurora viewing, each offering its own unique charm and beauty.
Areas at or Near the Auroral Zone
Tromsø, Norway (see my blog post on Tromsø here)
Reykjavik, Iceland
Yukon, Canada
Fairbanks, Alaska
Lapland Region, Finland
Note: Because planes cruise above the clouds, you can also get a bonus and view the lights from the window seat of your flight to and from these places.
Where did I see the lights?
Now, we get to the part you’ve all been waiting for—why I titled the blog post what I did! I have to add a little suspense to keep the reader interested. Although it lies in the subauroral region and not the auroral oval, I chose Anchorage, Alaska, as my Northern Lights chasing spot.
After researching, I decided against going to Fairbanks, although Aurora is more active and frequent there. During the month of December (when I chased), Fairbanks is very snowy and cloudy. I’m also not a cold-weather person. Sign me up for all the summer heat.
Anchorage is far enough north to view the lights but south enough to experience relatively moderate temperatures and a higher likelihood of clear skies. Since this was a domestic trip no passport or COVID test was required, Anchorage was the best choice for me.
What’s nice is that many tour companies will forecast a window of days for you. So, I recommend staying more than one night (minimum of three).
I did one tour with Jacob from Greatland Adventures and two with Carl from Alaska Photo Treks, one each night over two nights.
If you go to Anchorage, these are the people you need to take you viewing, so their links are below. So, I was fortunate to see Aurora for three nights in a row.
I recommend going out on multiple nights to ensure you see numerous colors and shapes and to give the forecast wiggle room because it can be hard to predict.
My Experience
My first aurora chase was a success! I had a KP Index of at least four for three nights in a row and could see the lights taking off on my flight out of Anchorage upon my return home. The photos turned out amazing, and I was happy with my tour.
I can’t even describe the breathtaking feeling of watching the aurora dance across the sky. It felt good to cross the chase off of my bucket list. I felt so alive seeing one of Earth’s most fascinating displays. I could have easily spent all night out there just watching the Aurora and the stars.
I’ll share some pictures below and then explain how to photograph the Aurora. You’ll want to make sure you understand how to photograph the lights, as it can be challenging to see with the naked eye, especially if the Aurora isn’t very active.
How to Photograph the Aurora
I remember when I was once an amateur photographer, so I understand the reliance on auto mode. But not even auto mode is advanced enough to capture the Northern Lights. You must abandon auto mode and switch to manual mode for the best photos.
I’ll explain the settings for my camera, but it should be consistent across camera types. We all know the big three for photography: shutter speed, aperture, and ISO.
Shutter speed is your camera’s exposure time, the length of time your camera is exposed to light. I had a 15 to 30-second shutter speed for all of my photos.
The aperture is the opening through which the light travels. It seems backward, but the lower the number, the bigger the aperture (lens opening). The higher the number, the smaller the aperture. I will include a chart for beginners, but I had my camera’s aperture set to the lowest it will go, which is f/4.0. This allows for a brighter image, but almost nothing is in focus.
For this reason, you’ll want to switch your autofocus to manual focus, specifically your infinity focus, to make sure everything in your picture is sharp.
Lastly, ISO is a setting that brightens (if you increase the number) or darkens (if you decrease the number) your photo. The general rule with ISO is “keep it low,” as a high ISO can make your shots appear very grainy. The ISO on my camera goes up to 64000. I had it set to 3200 for all photos.
Carl (from Alaska Photo Treks mentioned aboved) does an excellent job of explaining the settings needed for incredible photos, which is why I recommend bringing your camera and accompanying him and his team on your chase. I’m including the link to his guide here. Hopefully, the guide and charts below help out any aspiring photographers who may be reading.
Best Viewing Spot: Anchorage Overlook
As promised, I am including my personal favorite spot in the city to view the Northern Lights, the Anchorage Overlook!
The Anchorage Overlook at the Glen Alps trailhead is only a 10-mile drive from downtown, and it’s my new favorite scenic view of any place I’ve visited. There, you can hike, bike ride, and view the entire city. Seeing these views will make you want to experience all you can do in this beautiful town, which is perfect because Alaska’s largest city has a lot more to offer than just aurora viewing.
Anchorage makes for a lovely vacation for any traveler, from glaciers to wildlife spotting and everything in between.
Final Thoughts on The Northern Lights
I hope this post taught you some things about the Northern Lights, inspired you to start planning your chase, or just made you smile as you experienced it vicariously through this post.
Have you witnessed the Northern Lights? Let me know what your experience was like.
If you know someone who has been dying to see the beautiful colors, I’d appreciate it if you shared this post with them! Thanks so much for reading!
