Aurora-watching

Where to see the aurora
The aurora lies in an oval-shaped band (called the 'auroral oval') around both the geomagnetic North and South Poles. In order to see the aurora, the sky needs to be clear and dark, and you need to be near the oval.

• Clear skies
  The aurora is not a weather phenomenon, it occurs high above the clouds. Cloud cover will hide the aurora.
• Dark skies
  Spring and fall nights are the best time to see the aurora. Although the aurora is always present, even in summer, it is not visible unless the skies are dark. Sunlight and even bright moonlight can make the aurora difficult to see.
• Under the oval
  The location of the auroral oval remains fixed in relation to the Sun. Earth rotates beneath it once a day. The auroral oval is wider and more elongated toward the nighttime side of the planet.

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• In the Northern Hemisphere the auroral oval occupies, on average, a belt bounded by the 60-70° latitude circles. However, during stronger auroral displays, the oval expands and can be seen further south.

When to see the aurora
Auroral activity occurs as a result of solar activity.

• The presence of sunspots is a common predictor. The prevalence of sunspots tends to occur in an 11 year cycle. Auroral activity associated with sunspots is more frequent and intense during the peak years of the cycle. The last peak occurred in 2001.
• Active aurora years often follow the peak because of the tendency of coronal holes to form. Expect good auroral displays between 2004 and 2007.
  

Geophysical Institute
903 Koyukuk Drive, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska 99775-7320
site last modified: August 2003 maintained by Asahi Aurora Web Manager