Aurora Live Cam
We have an aurora cam LIVE STREAM! Check our aurora live cam before you go chasing the northern lights. Watch tonight’s livestream above to go to our YouTube channel. Click the “Live” tab for any upcoming live broadcasting, and don’t forget to subscribe!
Our cabin just north of Fairbanks has a real-time camera aimed at the northeastern sky, which is the perfect way to capture a glimpse of emerging aurora displays as they begin to swirl around the heavens.
What is the aurora borealis?
The aurora borealis, or northern lights, form when charged particles from the sun, known as the solar wind, collide with Earth’s upper atmosphere at incredible speeds. Our planet’s magnetic field acts as a protective shield and redirects these particles toward the poles and the dramatic reaction of this collision creates a glow in the skies of northern (and Southern) latitudes. This glow from the “excitation” of the charged particles can appear as white, green, pink, red, or other shades, depending on its strength and the type of elements in the atmosphere. The two primary gases in the Earth’s atmosphere are nitrogen and oxygen, and these elements give off different colors.
How do we forecast?
We forecast every day at 3pm, primarily looking at cloud cover. If we can locate partly clear skies, we’ll be in a good position to see the aurora if it comes out. We have several viewing locations within a 3-hours radius of both Anchorage and Fairbanks and use several forecasting tools to find clear skies and bring our guests to those places to view the aurora.
Note about forecasting aurora strength: Accurately forecasting aurora beyond 70 minutes into the future is impossible. 50-70 minutes into the future we have precise solar wind data from the satellites and have a good idea whether or not we can expect aurora. It is possible to look at activity on the sun’s surface and see the potential of certain nights into the future. But this isn’t an accurate forecast until we see the exact interplanetary magnetic field readings from the satellite about an hour beforehand.
About our northern lights tours
We operate both Anchorage Northern Lights Tours as well as Fairbanks Northern Lights Tours. Tours typically depart between 8-10 pm and usually return by 5 am depending on conditions and driving times. Photos and portraits are included with our tours and we provide hot drinks and snacks as well.
If you’re confirmed for a tour, we’ll call you on the day of your tour to let you know the pickup time, estimated driving distance, and our expected return time. We will also discuss anticipated cloud cover and any other potential challenges we might face that evening. If conditions are unfavorable and a tour is not recommended that night, we will work with you at that time to rebook to another night, based on availability.
Important tools for aurora forecasting
We primarily use data from Space Weather Live and Windy to look at cloud models and solar wind data.
Space Weather
We use Space Weather Live to look at solar wind speed and density as well as the Interplanetary Bt and Bz. This data is transmitted from a satellite which shows data approximately 50-70 minutes into the future depending on the solar wind speed. We also study magnetometers.
Earth Weather
When we forecast for our aurora tours in Alaska, we are primarily looking at Windy.com cloud models to see where the clearest skies are located. We also use other tools at the moment as well as information in the field to determine the best place to view the aroura at the best time.
Is the Kp-index important?
We joke about being “anti Kp-index” at Greatland Adventures but we are 100% serious that Kp-index is not an accurate way to forecast the northern lights. Many times we have seen a brilliant aurora display in both Anchorage and Fairbanks with a 0 KP forecast. Instead of Kp we use other tools and look at a variety of other data points, especially the Interplanetary Magnetic Field Bz. Our guides always do their best to get you to the best possible locations so that if the aurora comes out, our groups will be in the best position to see a northern lights display over Alaska.
Aurora FAQs
Joining us for an aurora tour in Alaska? Below is a wealth of helpful information and answers to frequently asked questions about our Fairbanks Northern Lights Tours & Anchorage Northern Lights Tours.
About Greatland Adventures
Our founder Steve Busby has been fine-tuning our northern lights tours for over 15 years, becoming the pioneer of aurora tourism in South-Central Alaska. Through this decade-plus of first-hand experience, we take pride in crafting the best aurora-viewing experience from the moment you book your tour, to the moment we drop you off after a night of aurora chasing. We take all aspects, from forecasting to guiding to aurora photography very seriously and will deliver a fun, safe, and informative experience.
Based on a data-driven analysis of online customer reviews across a range of travel platforms, Greatland Adventures took home Arival’s 1st place for Day Tours & Excursions in North America. This is an award honoring outstanding & innovative businesses in the experiences industry. Here are even more reasons you should trust us with your Alaska vacation.
Aurora blog posts
Northern lights tour photo gallery