Explore Fairbanks’ original, brand-new Aurora Borealis Viewing Map & Guide demystifies chasing the northern lights for travelers seeking to view the northern lights in the Fairbanks region. In addition to top-notch northern lights information, this useful tool identifies primary aurora viewing locations on a map specifically designed for making chasing the aurora easy. The map identifies nine locales including Cleary Summit, North Pole, Murphy Dome, Chena Hot Springs Recreation Area, as well as Fairbanks proper, that all offer excellent vantage points for seeing the northern lights.
Fairbanks sets the stage for outstanding aurora viewing during Aurora Borealis Season, August 21 through April 21, spanning all four seasons and nine months of the year. Due to Fairbanks’ location directly under the “Auroral Oval” seeing the northern lights is commonplace. In fact, if you stay a minimum of three nights and are actively out during evening hours your chance of seeing the aurora surges to more than 90%. Fairbanks is in an extraordinarily lucky location on the 65th parallel in the sub-arctic, with low precipitation and distance from coastal areas which both contribute to clear skies. Lastly, the area’s low population, low light pollution and long nights for most of the year contribute to darker skies that are also optimal for aurora borealis northern lights viewing. All of these reasons combined make Fairbanks one of the best locations in the world to view the aurora.
The Aurora Viewing Map & Guide also offers the core science behind the northern lights, basics on photographing the northern lights as well as pro tips for aurora chasing and FAQs. Aurora travelers to the Fairbanks area can pick up the one-of-a-kind Explore Fairbanks Aurora Viewing Map & Guide for free at the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center in downtown Fairbanks. An interactive online version can be seen at explorefairbanks.com/aurora.
