What is the best month to see the northern lights in Alaska?
The northern lights occur all four seasons of the year, although they are harder to see under the Midnight Sun. The best time to see the northern lights in Alaska is between August and April, when less daylight leads to darker night skies.
What is interesting about the northern lights?
Auroras are the optical signatures of electrical currents flowing up and down the magnetic field lines which are almost vertical at high latitudes; hence the near vertical rays of light. The aurora look like moving curtains of light because the particles of plasma are moving in response to the earth’s magnetic field.
Is Alaska famous for the northern lights?
Northern Alaska is where many Americans head for the chance to see the aurora borealis. It may be cold in winter (temperatures can drop to -30°F), but the inland Alaskan Arctic — where skies tend to be clearer — is one of the best places in the world to see this famous light show.
How long do the northern lights last in Alaska?
How long do the northern lights last? Anywhere from 10 minutes to all night long, depending on the magnitude of the incoming solar wind. “Coronal holes” consistently produce nice auroras but big solar flares and CMEs-coronal mass ejections are responsible for global-wide aurora displays…the BIG shows!
Why don’t you whistle at the Northern Lights?
They want to take somebody from the Earth to come with them. So they could come down and take you if you look at them or you draw attention. That’s why we say never whistle at them. You’re not supposed to draw attention because they will find you.
What happens if you touch the Northern Lights?
The aurora is emitted between 90 and 150 km in altitude (i.e. mostly above the ‘official’ boundary of space, 100 km), so ungloving your hand inside an aurora would likely be fatal (unless a fellow astronaut immediately reattaches your glove and repressurizes your suit).
What causes Northern Lights Alaska?
Bottom line: When charged particles from the sun strike atoms in Earth’s atmosphere, they cause electrons in the atoms to move to a higher-energy state. When the electrons drop back to a lower energy state, they release a photon: light. This process creates the beautiful aurora, or northern lights.
Do Northern Lights make noise?
Listeners have described them as a faint rustling, clapping or popping. An observer in the 1930s said the northern lights made “a noise as if two planks had met flat ways — not a sharp crack but a dull sound, loud enough for anyone to hear.”
Where is the best place to see the Northern Lights in Alaska?
Fairbanks, Alaska is considered one of the best places to see the Northern Lights in the world. The city is located inside the Auroral Oval—the area that hovers over the North Pole —which means more chances to see the Aurora Borealis.
When to see the Northern Lights in Alaska?
The Best Time of Year to See the Northern Lights in Alaska Autumn (August to October) As the summer winds down, days become shorter and cooler. Winter (November to March) Winter is the best time of year to visit Alaska and see the northern lights. Spring (April to May) As the sunlight and warmth return to Alaska, your chances of seeing the northern lights slowly decrease.
When is the best time to see the Northern Lights?
Generally, the best time to see the Northern Lights is between September and April when the long hours of darkness mean plenty of opportunity for seeing the aurora . The Northern Lights occur throughout the year.
Can you see the Northern Lights on the Alaskan cruise?
The best month to see the Northern Lights in Alaska while cruising is in September. With fewer hours of daylight and more darkness, there are additional chances to see the waltzing colors illuminate the evening sky.