Alaska air credit + February birthday = northern lights trip?
October 30, 2018 8:49 AM Subscribe
My birthday is in late February, plus I have an Alaska Air credit that's waiting to be used. Can I put these to use and find a way to see the Northern Lights around or on my birthday? If so, where, specifically, can I go with decent (but obviously unpredictable) odds?
Nights are long, so that boosts the odds.
Useful links: http://auroraforecast.gi.alaska.edu/
https://www.aurorahunter.com/aurora-prediction.html
https://www.travelandleisure.com/trip-ideas/nature-travel/alaska-when-to-see-northern-lights
posted by theora55 at 10:05 AM on October 30, 2018
Useful links: http://auroraforecast.gi.alaska.edu/
https://www.aurorahunter.com/aurora-prediction.html
https://www.travelandleisure.com/trip-ideas/nature-travel/alaska-when-to-see-northern-lights
posted by theora55 at 10:05 AM on October 30, 2018
Fairbanks in late February or early March, where:
- it's cold, so there is less chance of a weather system/clouds interfering
- nights are long, which boosts odds (as said above)
- try to go on a new moon, so moonlight doesn't interfere
- try to visit for at least 4-5 days, to boost your odds
- stay outside of the city, so the man-made lights don't interfere (I recommend Angel Creek Lodge for non-fancy/rugged; Chena Hot Springs for fancy)
Source: a Feb. 2014 trip to outside of Fairbanks to see the lights -- successfully! MeMail me if you want!
posted by knownassociate at 10:10 AM on October 30, 2018 [2 favorites]
- it's cold, so there is less chance of a weather system/clouds interfering
- nights are long, which boosts odds (as said above)
- try to go on a new moon, so moonlight doesn't interfere
- try to visit for at least 4-5 days, to boost your odds
- stay outside of the city, so the man-made lights don't interfere (I recommend Angel Creek Lodge for non-fancy/rugged; Chena Hot Springs for fancy)
Source: a Feb. 2014 trip to outside of Fairbanks to see the lights -- successfully! MeMail me if you want!
posted by knownassociate at 10:10 AM on October 30, 2018 [2 favorites]
The end of February is a great time to go due to the Russell‐McPherron effect where geomagnetic activity is highest around the equinoxes and Fairbanks is a great place to visit because is along a "good" magnetic latitude that reliably sees aurora activity. Because we are slipping into a solar minimum, the display might not be the intense dancing lights you see in photos and videos, but you should still see some good arcs.
I also recommend going to Chena Hot Springs.
Source: Studied space science in graduate school and attended a February aurora conference in Fairbanks.
posted by source.decay at 10:18 AM on October 30, 2018
I also recommend going to Chena Hot Springs.
Source: Studied space science in graduate school and attended a February aurora conference in Fairbanks.
posted by source.decay at 10:18 AM on October 30, 2018
Yup, Fairbanks is the surest bet with reasonable infrastructure. If you stay at the hot springs this is basically their entire reason for existing so they'll wake you up if the lights come out.
posted by charmedimsure at 11:14 AM on October 30, 2018
posted by charmedimsure at 11:14 AM on October 30, 2018
Ooh, yes! Come to Fairbanks! In addition to Chena Hot Springs, there are lots of folks who will do aurora tours: our local tourism agency, Explore Fairbanks, has more on things to do. (Apparently we’re still at solar minimum, but hopefully there’ll still be some aurora for you.)
posted by leahwrenn at 9:41 PM on October 30, 2018
posted by leahwrenn at 9:41 PM on October 30, 2018
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