So, you wish to go Alaska to witness the lights. Good choice, you won’t regret it! Unless, of course, you don’t happen to see them. Yes, that is an option. The lights are shy and you need to have some science, statistics and luck in order to catch them at their glory. So, before you book a flight ticket and take a time off work, here are some tips:
What is the best month to go?
Long story short: March-April or September-October will be your best choice, with a tendency to March.
The most crucial condition for Aurora hunting is darkness. The darker – the better. Which leaves out the summer months (June-August), when is it never really dark.
So winter? Looking at statistics, the months of September, October, March and April have the greatest abundance of geomagnetic storms. This has to do with equinox and solstice (terms from astronomy, google it). Each year has two days of equinox and two days of solstice. Usually, equinoxes is around March 20th and September 23rd, while solstice days are usually the end of June and December. Statistically, aurora activity is twice higher during equinox than solstice, making the end of March and September a good pick.
So, fall or spring? When should I come?
Spring (March – April): The sky are usually more clear (clouds makes seeing the aurora way harder). The days are becoming longer, which offers more options to do during the daytime (like the Iditarod race). The landscape and mountains are snowy which sets a magical atmosphere. The weather is usually nicer, with little rain/snow.
Fall (September – October): The landscape is rich in the colors of the fall. Daylight is running out. Temperatures are generally warmer, however, it is usually more windy and rainy/snowy.
Button line: Both seasons are great for aurora hunting, and each has its magic. Usually, March is considered the popular pick due to a generally better sky visibility, and a fun late-winter experience (for example, you can go skiing!). Photographers: you should consider if in your aurora photos you prefer to have a frozen landscape or running rivers and lakes.