

"The solar cycle is indeed ramping up and as solar activity increases, so do the chances for Earth-directed blobs of plasma, the coronal mass ejections, which drive the geomagnetic storms and aurora."īut it's not just the solar weather forecast you need to monitor to have the aurora experience of a lifetime. "There will continue to be aurora viewing opportunities in 2022," Steenburgh said.

When the sun shoots these geysers of plasma in the direction of Earth, wonderful auroras can be expected. Coronal mass ejections are the most powerful source of charged particles emitted from the corona, the sun's upper atmosphere. The good news is that the sun's 11-year cycle of activity has just picked up and we will see more sun spots, flares and coronal mass ejections going forward than in the previous years. You need darkness to see the northern lights, and places in the auroral zone have precious little of it during the summer months. If you're planning an aurora-viewing trip, try not to schedule it in the middle of summer. The northern lights are more formally known as the aurora borealis, and are caused by interactions between the solar wind, which is the stream of charged particles emanating from the sun, and the Earth's magnetic field.

Read on to find out when and where to see the northern lights, and what powers this dazzling display. For example, the summer may be a good time for a vacation, but a better time to see auroras is actually between winter and spring. But you need to know when and where to go. If you need equipment, our roundups for the best cameras for astrophotography and best lenses for astrophotography can help make sure you're ready for the next aurora event.īut for those who are lucky enough to catch a strong display, the shimmering lights can appear like curtains, like pulses of jets or like other light-show phenomena - all available above your head, for free.įor best results, you can blaze your own trail somewhere along the "auroral zone" that encircles Earth's northern reaches.
Alaska northern lights 2021 how to#
And if you're hoping to capture them on camera, consider our picks for the best equipment for aurora photography and how to edit aurora photos. We do operate year round and we invite you to explore what we have to offer when you are going to be here - use the search button and just choose the month you will be here and you will see all the adventures operating that month.Editor's note: If you hope to see the northern lights yourself, check out our guide on where and how to photograph the aurora. New rates/dates for the next Aurora Season are out usually by May and the new rates/dates for the next Midnight Sun Season are out usually by October. If you are looking for dates beyond what is listed on the website please be aware we cannot make reservations for the next season until the current season is completed. Our website is current for the tours we can make reservations for now. Our one-day and multi-day adventures allow the traveler to explore this remarkable region in a comprehensive yet economical way. The remoteness of Alaska’s Arctic often makes it too expensive and time consuming for the Alaska traveler to visit independently. Whether flying into a remote village or traveling the rugged Dalton Highway, it is the spirit of the traveler which is unquestionably the key to making the most of a travel experience in Alaska’s Arctic.

The communities visited are situated in areas where many of the amenities common in today’s modern world are nonexistent.
