Likely Visible
Best chance in Alaska: Kaktovik
Free push alerts built on NOAA space weather data, plus the 72-hour forecast, cloud cover and darkness window for Kaktovik.
Northern lights in Alaska are a regular sight: they can be seen at a Kp as low as 1. AuroraMe tracks 212 locations across Alaska; 22 of them need only Kp 1, led by Kaktovik.
Cities Covered
212
Monitoring locations across Alaska
Magnetic Latitude Range
48.8°–71.1° MLAT
Prime aurora viewing latitudes
Required Kp Index
Kp 1.0–8.0
Minimum activity for visibility
Kp Requirements by Location
Kaktovik
71.1° 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
67.9° MLAT
Required Kp Levels
Kp 1.0+ Horizon
Kp 2.0+ Optimal
Kp 3.0+ Bright
Kp0Kp1Kp2Kp3Kp4Kp5Kp6Kp7Kp8Kp9
Visible on horizon
Clearly visible
Bright overhead
Venetie
67.8° MLAT
Required Kp Levels
Kp 1.0+ Horizon
Kp 2.0+ Optimal
Kp 3.0+ Bright
Kp0Kp1Kp2Kp3Kp4Kp5Kp6Kp7Kp8Kp9
Visible on horizon
Clearly visible
Bright overhead
Fort Yukon
67.6° 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
67.1° 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
Located in the heart of the auroral oval at 71.1° MLAT. One of the best locations in the USA for regular northern lights displays. Clear skies are the main limiting factor.
CURRENT STATUS
Likely Visible
View
Anaktuvuk Pass
Prime aurora zone at 68.0° magnetic latitude. Northern lights visible most clear nights during active solar periods. Low KP threshold means frequent viewing opportunities.
CURRENT STATUS
Likely Visible
View
Chalkyitsik
Exceptional aurora viewing destination at 67.9° magnetic latitude. The low KP 0+ threshold means you'll see northern lights on most active nights with clear weather.
CURRENT STATUS
Likely Visible
View
Venetie
Exceptional aurora viewing destination at 67.8° magnetic latitude. The low KP 0+ threshold means you'll see northern lights on most active nights with clear weather.
CURRENT STATUS
Likely Visible
View
Fort Yukon
Located in the heart of the auroral oval at 67.6° MLAT. One of the best locations in the USA for regular northern lights displays. Clear skies are the main limiting factor.
CURRENT STATUS
Likely Visible
View
Circle
Exceptional aurora viewing destination at 67.1° magnetic latitude. The low KP 0+ threshold means you'll see northern lights on most active nights with clear weather.
CURRENT STATUS
Likely Visible
View
Eagle
Prime aurora zone at 66.6° magnetic latitude. Northern lights visible most clear nights during active solar periods. Low KP threshold means frequent viewing opportunities.
CURRENT STATUS
Likely Visible
View
Kobuk
Prime aurora zone at 66.1° magnetic latitude. Northern lights visible most clear nights during active solar periods. Low KP threshold means frequent viewing opportunities.
CURRENT STATUS
Likely Visible
View
Livengood
Located in the heart of the auroral oval at 66.1° MLAT. One of the best locations in the USA for regular northern lights displays. Clear skies are the main limiting factor.
CURRENT STATUS
Likely Visible
View
Chicken
Exceptional aurora viewing destination at 65.9° magnetic latitude. The low KP 1+ threshold means you'll see northern lights on most active nights with clear weather.
CURRENT STATUS
Likely Visible
View
Rampart
Prime aurora zone at 65.9° magnetic latitude. Northern lights visible most clear nights during active solar periods. Low KP threshold means frequent viewing opportunities.
CURRENT STATUS
Likely Visible
View
Fairbanks
Prime aurora zone at 65.6° magnetic latitude. Northern lights visible most clear nights during active solar periods. Low KP threshold means frequent 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
MintoNorth PoleDelta JunctionNenanaDot LakeTanacrossTokAndersonTetlinNorthwayHealyDeeringSlanaChistochinaGakonaDiomedeChitinaTalkeetnaWainwrightPortage CreekBeaverStevens VillageManley Hot SpringsTananaRubyWalesSkagwayHainesPalmerWillowWasillaTatitlekYakutatAnchorageCordovaEyakGirdwoodWhittierJuneauGustavusStony RiverHoonahPelicanSavoongaTenakee SpringsSewardAngoonBarrowNuiqsutAtqasukPoint LayBettlesAlatnaAllakaketAmblerShungnakPoint HopeTwo RiversHughesKivalinaNoatakKianaNoorvikSelawikKotzebueHusliaBucklandGalenaKoyukukShishmarefLake MinchuminaNulatoKoyukKaltagBrevig MissionElimShaktoolikTellerWhite MountainNikolaiUnalakleetMcGrathTakotnaNomeValdezSaint MichaelStebbinsGraylingShagelukAnvikTyonekKotlikCrooked CreekHoly CrossRed DevilSleetmuteEmmonakKenaiLime VillageAlakanukSoldotnaGambellNunam IquaSheldon PointAniakChuathbalukMarshallRussian MissionKalskagLower KalskagMountain VillageNinilchikPilot StationPitkas PointUpper KalskagKakePetersburgSitkaHalibut CoveWrangellHomerNondaltonScammon BayTuluksakSeldoviaAkiachakAkiakChevakCoffman CoveIliamnaNewhalenBethelHooper BayKasiglukKwethlukNunapitchukPort AlexanderNapakiakNapaskiakKokhanokThorne BayKasaanKoliganekKetchikanKlawockSaxmanCraigIgiugigEekMetlakatlaNew StuyahokTuntutuliakEkwokHydaburgTununakLevelockNightmuteToksook BayAleknagikChefornakQuinhagakDillinghamKwigillingokMekoryukKing SalmonKipnukNaknekOuzinkieSouth NaknekManokotakPort LionsKodiakTogiakTwin HillsGoodnews BayPlatinumEgegikKarlukLarsen BayOld HarborPilot PointAkhiokPort HeidenChignikChignik LagoonChignik LakeNelson LagoonSaint PaulSand PointSaint GeorgeCold BayKing CoveFalse PassAkutanUnalaskaNikolskiAtkaAdakSaint Mary'sClark's Point
Best Viewing Season in Alaska
Venetie averages 75.9 clear nights a year on which Kp reaches its threshold during darkness. Figures below are for Venetie, the best-placed of the 212 locations we track in Alaska. They describe a typical year built from the 1996-2026 planetary Kp record and the 2001-2020 cloud normal — not a forecast. Each city page shows tonight's live cloud, moon and darkness instead.
Geographic Advantages
Magnetic Latitude 48.8°–71.1° MLAT
Cities Covered 212 locations
Winter Darkness 13.1 h in December
No Astronomical Darkness May to August
Dark Sky Sites 3 Bortle 1-3
Peak Aurora Months
Primary Peak January — 14.5 clear nights
Secondary Peak March — 14.3 clear nights
Third Best December — 11.7 clear nights
Clear Nights a Year 75.9 a year
Kp Needed Kp 1-8
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 71.1°) can see aurora at Kp 1.0+, while southern locations need Kp 8.0+. 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.
