Aurora Nights: The Endless Dance of the Northern Lights

The northern lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis, are the light of dawn. The term is derived from Aurora, the goddess of dawn, and Boreas, the northern wind personified.

The northern lights appear when the sun’s highly charged solar wind particles collide with air molecules in the earth’s atmosphere, transferring their energy into light. This occurs around the Polar Regions, where those magnetic fields converge. These magnetic fields create auroral ovals around our planet’s top and bottom, which move and distort as the earth rotates and solar flare activity increases. They usually occur between 60 and 75 degrees of latitude, covering northern parts of Canada, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Alaska, Russia, and Iceland.

Fairbanks, Alaska, is in my backyard, and it is an affordable trip to witness the Northern Lights for those on the West Coast. While Norway offers a romantic allure, with Tromso as a premier spot for aurora viewing, Fairbanks sits within the Northern Lights aurora oval, offering a budget-friendly opportunity to witness nature’s stunning light display.

According to Space.com, “The next 4 to 5 years will be the best time to see the northern lights this solar cycle. With a promising aurora forecast for the coming years, now is the best time to plan your aurora sightseeing trip.”

Initially, our plans for our Fairbanks trip were a long weekend getaway, giving us two chances to catch a glimpse of the Aurora. Of course, there are no guarantees when encountering Mother Nature’s wonders. Amidst my preparations, I stumbled upon a wealth of knowledge embodied in one individual—Amy, the Aurora Borealis Notifications Group curator on Facebook. Despite my persistent inquiries for assurances, her response remained consistent: with clear skies, no light pollution, and a stay for at least five days in Fairbanks, the odds of witnessing the Aurora are greatly enhanced.

We chased her at night and slept most of the day! Though there are things to see in Fairbanks, like the ice sculptures in March, you can drive to the North Pole, Alaska, to see the Christmas store open all year round or walk around downtown. There are a few good places to eat but little to do, in my opinion. Other travelers may have different interests, such as hiking. It was just too cold for us. 

I recommend staying for five days in Fairbanks to increase your chances of seeing the Northern Lights. 

Here’s what a 5-day trip to Fairbanks in March looks like.

Day 1: 

Most flights tend to land either late at night or early in the morning. Ours arrived at 1 a.m. We stayed at Pike’s Waterfront Lodge, which offers airport shuttle services. By 1:30 AM, we were at the hotel. Upon arrival, we heard people exclaiming and running outside, “She’s out there!” Hastily leaving our luggage at the front desk, we dashed outside. It was a mind-blowing moment to witness her presence without any effort on our part. The Aurora dance continued for a while before we realized it was time to check in and catch some sleep. It was already 3:00 in the morning.  Her majesty welcomed us; fortunately, we didn’t have to venture far. 

Day 2: 

We arranged a photography tour with Aaron of Fairbanks Aurora Tour the following evening. While witnessing the Northern Lights is never guaranteed, Aaron assured us he’d try to locate them. Upon picking us up, he warned us we might need to venture far due to cloudy conditions around Fairbanks. He continues to check the weather updates on his phone while driving to our destination. We arrived at our first and second locations, but after discovering it would be cloudy, we moved on. He was an exceptional guide, with knowledge and enthusiasm for the Aurora. 

Eventually, we found ourselves seemingly in the middle of nowhere, on the riverbank of the Nenana area. At -10 degrees, the biting cold numbed us, literally and figuratively. It had fresh snow, so you have to be careful and not wander, as you will fall. Well, that was me who wandered and fell! We found a spot, and most group members set up their photo gear, preparing for the Aurora. We had to get a new tripod earlier that day as ours froze and broke last night while taking photos of the Aurora out in the cold. My son, Nathan, was brave enough to be out in the cold setting up his new tripod, hoping the tripod would not freeze and break again. He patiently waited out in the cold and was ready to shoot when she came out. It was a very long wait. Thankfully, Aaron’s van had reliable heating that kept some of us warm. He diligently monitored the weather conditions as we patiently waited for the appearance of the Aurora. 

It was 1:30 a.m., and after two hours of anticipation, the Aurora Borealis graced us with her majestic presence, dancing brilliantly before our eyes. We stayed at the riverbank until 4 AM and returned to the hotel at 5:30 AM. We continued to see her on our way back, and she was also visible at the hotel. We were excited and continued to wander around the hotel’s waterfront and gaze at the beautiful Aurora. We just can’t get enough! 

Although this was a photography tour, half the people, including me, did not carry big cameras and lenses. Half of the people had their iPhones. This was a group of 10 people in a small van. Everyone got along and was respectful of the rules that were given to us. They also avoided turning on their phone flashlights to prevent light pollution and help adjust their eyes to the dark. Aaron also only used a red light, which is best for adjusting the eyes to night vision.

 

 

Day 3:

We reserved two spots with Alaska Aurora Adventure for an Aurora viewing. Heather, the owner, graciously fetched us from our hotel and whisked us to the North Pole. They are a full-fledged tour operator with cozy cabins where you can hunker down for prime Aurora viewing. You can rent a cabin for a few days or opt for their Aurora viewing package, where they chauffeur you from the hotel to one of their viewing cabins, primed for Aurora sightings. What sets this tour apart is its comfort: snug inside the cabin, you can stay warm, sip on hot cocoa, and indulge in snacks. Heather and Jason are on standby, ready to alert the guest when the Northern Lights grace the sky. And we saw her again!

For this tour, a decent amount of people stayed in the lodge. When it was time to go out, the group started walking to the viewing area. There were many people in the group, and most were pleasant, but there was one loud and obnoxious group. As we wandered and began taking pictures of the Aurora, they kept coming to us and asking to take their group pictures. They were also disrespectful of the rules, turning their phone flashlights on and flashing at our faces. The Aurora viewing was excellent, but these people were not. I hope you don’t experience it with a group like them.

Day 4/5:

We spent a night at the Aurora Borealis Lodge. We rented a car for two days, as pick-up and drop-off from Fairbanks to the lodge are expensive. Nestled in the Cleary Summit area, just 20 miles north of Fairbanks, the cabin offers a unique opportunity to witness the Aurora without braving the cold. Through our cabin window, a panoramic 180-degree view unfolds, allowing you to marvel at the magnificent Northern Lights from the cozy comfort of your room. If you’re up for it, there’s also a viewing deck to set up your photo equipment and immerse yourself in the elements. The Aurora was faint that evening, but we still saw her from our window.

No matter how you do it, experiencing the Northern Lights is remarkable. The breathtaking sight of the one and only Lady Aurora Borealis made every effort—the pursuit, the anticipation, and the chilly weather—worth it. The thrill will never fade, even if you see her nightly in Fairbanks.

Travel Tips

• Join the Aurora Borealis Notifications Group on Facebook; they offer much insight, especially on what to expect. 
• Educate yourself; remember, there’s no guarantee. No clouds, no light pollution, high solar activity, a high Kp Index value, and your patience are what it takes.
• If you decide on a DIY tour and chase her on your own, do research and be prepared. It may take a lot of planning, as you don’t know exactly where and when she will appear. 
• Getting a knowledgeable guide is very important. We enjoyed the Fairbanks Aurora Tour. Aaron was excellent, and we highly recommend his tour. We drove out of Fairbanks and several other places to find the best spot. We waited 2 hours, but the promise was delivered on a silver platter. 
• The businesses mentioned in this post are not related to me in any way. Planning a trip is overwhelming, and there’s too much information available. We try to simplify things for you, and these are our recommendations. Happy Chasing! 

Aurora is in my backyard!

Since our memorable trip to Fairbanks, I’ve closely followed the Aurora Notification Group and the Space Weather Prediction Center (www.swpc.noaa.gov). The anticipation of the approaching Solar Maximum has me planning future visits to Fairbanks or even Norway to witness the breathtaking Aurora Borealis again. It’s a natural phenomenon that will never fail to fascinate me.

Throughout the day on May 10, 2024, ‘aurora chasers’ phones (mine included) had been beeping with alerts of the imminent arrival of a major solar storm, with the usual indicators of auroral activity pinned to the top of the scale. The anticipation was palpable as I got emails from SWPC NoAA, each heightening my excitement. However, I paid little attention, as I knew I was not in an area where I could see it or be able to drive to a place at the last minute to see it. I received more notifications throughout the evening, but I ignored them. Finally, around 10 PM, I couldn’t resist and checked out the Aurora Notification Group on Facebook to see what was happening. 

The world experienced an electric KP9 Aurora on May 10, 2024. The strongest geomagnetic solar storm of the past 20 years! Three CMEs that erupted from the sun’s outer atmosphere and were heading towards the Earth were responsible for the spectacular Aurora show. A CME, or coronal mass ejection, is a collection of magnetized plasma ejected from the sun’s boiling outer atmospheric layer, the corona, due to a disruption in the sun’s magnetic field.

The members of the Aurora Notification Group living in the lower 48 were posting the most stunning Aurora photos from their backyards and parking lots, visible from even their kitchen windows! At 11:35 PM, I stepped outside, my heart pounding with anticipation, to see if she was visible. I know that the Aurora appears very faint to the naked eye. Many auroras are invisible to the naked eye, especially with light pollution. Using my iPhone compass, I tried to find where I could see to the north. And a faint magenta color was on the horizon; like a whisper of magic, she was there!  With my excitement, I texted some of my friends to go out and see the Aurora. Sadly, most were asleep and missed one of the most amazing natural phenomena. I stayed in the backyard until 1 AM, and the Aurora lit up my backyard in a mesmerizing display of magenta hues, as if the sky were dancing. 

The Aurora Borealis, Northern Hemisphere, and Aurora Australis, Southern Hemisphere, were global phenomena seen and celebrated worldwide. It has been many years since we were treated to an Aurora, as widely seen as the show on May 10, 2024. Sky watchers in the northern and southern hemispheres were in awe as the sky darkened globally on May 10 until the morning of May 11, 2024, as they witnessed the sky lit up by the magentas, deep reds, greens, and pinks of massive aurora displays. At that moment, we were all connected by the beauty and wonder of the Aurora Borealis. Indeed, it is ‘Our Beautiful World‘!

Author: Cristy
Photo Credit: Nathan/Cristy