Cities Covered
212
Monitoring locations across Alaska
Magnetic Latitude Range
47.8°–71.2° MLAT
Prime aurora viewing latitudes
Required Kp Index
Kp 1.0–9.0
Minimum activity for visibility
Visible
Best chance in Alaska tonight: Kaktovik — Visible
AuroraMe watches Kp, clouds and darkness windows so you know when to go outside.
Kp Requirements by Location
Kaktovik
71.2° MLAT
Required Kp Levels
Kp 1.0+ Horizon
Kp 2.0+ Optimal
Kp 3.0+ Bright
Kp0Kp1Kp2Kp3Kp4Kp5Kp6Kp7Kp8Kp9
Visible on horizon
Clearly visible
Bright overhead
Anaktuvuk Pass
68.0° MLAT
Required Kp Levels
Kp 1.0+ Horizon
Kp 2.0+ Optimal
Kp 3.0+ Bright
Kp0Kp1Kp2Kp3Kp4Kp5Kp6Kp7Kp8Kp9
Visible on horizon
Clearly visible
Bright overhead
Chalkyitsik
67.7° MLAT
Required Kp Levels
Kp 1.0+ Horizon
Kp 2.0+ Optimal
Kp 3.0+ Bright
Kp0Kp1Kp2Kp3Kp4Kp5Kp6Kp7Kp8Kp9
Visible on horizon
Clearly visible
Bright overhead
Fort Yukon
67.3° MLAT
Required Kp Levels
Kp 1.0+ Horizon
Kp 2.0+ Optimal
Kp 3.0+ Bright
Kp0Kp1Kp2Kp3Kp4Kp5Kp6Kp7Kp8Kp9
Visible on horizon
Clearly visible
Bright overhead
Beaver
66.8° MLAT
Required Kp Levels
Kp 1.0+ Horizon
Kp 2.0+ Optimal
Kp 3.0+ Bright
Kp0Kp1Kp2Kp3Kp4Kp5Kp6Kp7Kp8Kp9
Visible on horizon
Clearly visible
Bright overhead
Circle
66.8° MLAT
Required Kp Levels
Kp 1.0+ Horizon
Kp 2.0+ Optimal
Kp 3.0+ Bright
Kp0Kp1Kp2Kp3Kp4Kp5Kp6Kp7Kp8Kp9
Visible on horizon
Clearly visible
Bright overhead
Visible on horizon
Clearly visible
Bright overhead
Best Dark Sky Viewing Locations
Interactive map showing dark sky preserves and Bortle class sites in Alaska. Click markers for details and directions.
Bortle 1
Denali National Park
One of the darkest skies in North America
120mi from fairbanks240mi from anchorage
Parks Highway, open year-round
Bortle 2
Chena Hot Springs
Aurora viewing with hot springs resort
60mi from fairbanks
Chena Hot Springs Road, maintained winter
Bortle 3
Murphy Dome
Popular local aurora viewing spot
20mi from fairbanks
Murphy Dome Road, 4WD recommended
Aurora Status by City
Kaktovik
Inupiat village on Barter Island, on the Beaufort Sea coast inside the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
CURRENT STATUS
Likely Visible
View
Anaktuvuk Pass
Far northern Alaska city with outstanding aurora visibility and dark winter skies
CURRENT STATUS
Likely Visible
View
Chalkyitsik
Far northern Alaska city with outstanding aurora visibility and dark winter skies
CURRENT STATUS
Likely Visible
View
Fort Yukon
Far northern Alaska city with outstanding aurora visibility and dark winter skies
CURRENT STATUS
Likely Visible
View
Beaver
Far northern Alaska city with outstanding aurora visibility and dark winter skies
CURRENT STATUS
Likely Visible
View
Circle
Far northern Alaska city with outstanding aurora visibility and dark winter skies
CURRENT STATUS
Likely Visible
View
Eagle
Northern Alaska community with excellent northern lights viewing opportunities
CURRENT STATUS
Likely Visible
View
Stevens Village
Northern Alaska community with excellent northern lights viewing opportunities
CURRENT STATUS
Likely Visible
View
Alatna
Northern Alaska community with excellent northern lights viewing opportunities
CURRENT STATUS
Likely Visible
View
Allakaket
Northern Alaska community with excellent northern lights viewing opportunities
CURRENT STATUS
Likely Visible
View
Livengood
Northern Alaska community with excellent northern lights viewing opportunities
CURRENT STATUS
Likely Visible
View
Chicken
Northern Alaska community with excellent northern lights viewing opportunities
CURRENT STATUS
Likely Visible
View
Showing top 12 cities by current aurora activity and magnetic latitude. Alaska has 212 total aurora viewing locations.
View all 212 cities
FairbanksMintoNorth PoleTananaDelta JunctionHusliaDot LakeTokTanacrossAndersonTetlinNorthwayHealyRubySlanaGalenaLake MinchuminaChistochinaGakonaNuiqsutAtqasukBettlesAmblerKobukShungnakRampartKianaNoorvikSelawikKotzebueBucklandDeeringKoyukukNulatoChitinaNikolaiSkagwayHainesJuneauAngoonKakeWrangellBarrowWainwrightPoint LayVenetiePortage CreekPoint HopeKivalinaNoatakHughesTwo RiversManley Hot SpringsNenanaShishmarefKoyukDiomedeWalesKaltagBrevig MissionTellerElimShaktoolikWhite MountainNomeTalkeetnaUnalakleetMcGrathTakotnaPalmerValdezWillowWasillaSaint MichaelStebbinsTatitlekGraylingYakutatCordovaEyakAnchorageShagelukGirdwoodAnvikWhittierGustavusKotlikTyonekSavoongaGambellStony RiverHoonahHoly CrossEmmonakCrooked CreekRed DevilSleetmuteAlakanukLime VillagePelicanTenakee SpringsNunam IquaKenaiSoldotnaSheldon PointSewardAniakChuathbalukSaint Mary'sMarshallRussian MissionMountain VillagePilot StationPitkas PointKalskagLower KalskagUpper KalskagPetersburgNinilchikSitkaScammon BayHalibut CoveTuluksakHomerNondaltonChevakSeldoviaAkiachakAkiakCoffman CoveHooper BayKwethlukNunapitchukPort AlexanderIliamnaNewhalenBethelKasiglukThorne BayNapakiakNapaskiakKasaanKetchikanSaxmanKokhanokKlawockCraigKoliganekMetlakatlaHydaburgIgiugigEekTuntutuliakNew StuyahokTununakNightmuteToksook BayEkwokLevelockChefornakMekoryukAleknagikQuinhagakKwigillingokKipnukDillinghamKing SalmonNaknekSouth NaknekManokotakOuzinkieClark's PointTwin HillsPort LionsKodiakTogiakGoodnews BayPlatinumEgegikLarsen BayKarlukOld HarborPilot PointAkhiokPort HeidenChignikChignik LagoonChignik LakeSaint PaulNelson LagoonSand PointSaint GeorgeCold BayKing CoveFalse PassAkutanUnalaskaNikolskiAtkaAdak
Best Viewing Season in Alaska
Geographic Advantages
Magnetic Latitude 47.8°–71.2° MLAT
Cities Covered 212 locations
Mean astronomical darkness at Venetie, Dec–Feb 9.7–13.1 hours
Dark Sky Sites 3 Bortle 1-3
Peak Aurora Months
Estimates for Venetie
January 14.48 clear nights, 47.3% cloud
March 14.31 clear nights, 42% cloud
December 11.72 clear nights, 52.6% cloud
Track with AuroraMe
Coverage All 212 cities
Advance Notice 30 minutes
Weather Integration Cloud cover
Predictions Best viewing times
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you see the northern lights in Alaska?
Yes, Alaska offers aurora viewing opportunities. Cities like Kaktovik (MLAT 71.2°) can see aurora at Kp 1.0+, while southern locations need Kp 9.0+. Best viewing is September–April during dark, clear nights.
Where are the darkest skies in Alaska?
The darkest locations include Denali National Park and Chena Hot Springs with Bortle class 1–3. These sites offer minimal light pollution for optimal aurora photography.
Learn More About the Northern Lights
Use the aurora borealis forecast, check northern lights tonight, or open the live aurora map and Kp tracker.
