\u201cIt’s just a simple graphic showing the state of Alaska and a band of green aurora,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s the most popular part of our website and it has been for many years.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Screenshot from Aurora Forecast<\/p>\n
On Jan. 6, the aurora forecast said quiet activity was expected. When it’s active, you’ll see a thick band of green spanning across a wider area.<\/p>\n
The tool shows where the aurora is most likely to be visible and offers a 27-day outlook, so you can plan your aurora outing ahead of time. There\u2019s also live cameras, including one at the Poker Flat Research Range, where researchers launched rockets last spring to learn more<\/a> about how the aurora affects our atmosphere.<\/p>\n Checking this forecast is part of my daily routine. (If you listen to Morning Edition on Alaska Public Media, you\u2019ve probably heard me mention it at some point.)<\/p>\n Just remember: The forecast is just part of the puzzle. Dark, clear skies are equally important. Also, give your eyes time to adjust to the darkness by avoiding bright lights, including your phone.<\/p>\n 2. Be prepared to stay outside longer than you want<\/b><\/p>\n Rozell isn\u2019t an aurora hunter. He usually just sees them spontaneously. But sometimes, he said he\u2019ll sleep outside \u2014 for fun \u2014 and tends to have good luck catching the light show.<\/p>\n \u201cI will bring like 20-below [sleeping] bag, and a nice inflatable pad and a bivy sack,\u201d Rozell said. \u201cThat’s like my favorite, because you’re warm in your bag. It’s awesome.\u201d<\/p>\n Ned Rozell is a science writer for UAF’s Geophysical Institute. He has spectacular aurora stories that sound straight out of a storybook, and he doesn’t have to search for them.<\/p>\n Another perk, he said, is the lack of mosquitoes. <\/p>\n As someone who hates bugs and is still learning to love the cold<\/a>, I\u2019d never tell you to sleep outside in the winter \u2014 that sounds miserable. But you have to be willing to stay outside for a while. Longer than you probably want to. <\/p>\n I tend to be impatient when it comes to looking for the aurora. I gave it a shot on a recent Wednesday and was back inside within five minutes. Needless to say, I didn\u2019t see anything.<\/p>\n I told Carl Johnson with Alaska Photo Treks<\/a> about my short-lived venture. He laughed and told me aurora chasing requires more time than a couple minutes.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are a lot of variables that impact when the aurora actually occurs,\u201d Johnson said. \u201cIf you’re going to go out aurora chasing and make an earnest effort of it, you have to be ready to be out, at least in the Anchorage area, from at least 11 p.m. to 4 a.m..\u201d<\/p>\n If you\u2019re not prepared to trade your night\u2019s sleep for the aurora, the best aurora is usually within<\/a> an hour or two of midnight.<\/p>\n 3. Gear up and be patient<\/b><\/p>\n In Anchorage, popular aurora viewing spots include Point Woronzof near the airport and Beluga Point off the Seward Highway. Those places tend to get packed pretty quickly on a clear night with a good aurora forecast.<\/p>\n Johnson said before you head out, you\u2019ll want to layer up and wear the right gear so you can get away from cars and groups of people. When you do that, he said, there are other advantages.<\/p>\n \u201cGive yourself a little bit of time and dress appropriately, and you can get out and enjoy the aurora all to yourself, even from areas that are otherwise pretty popular and sometimes crowded,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Carl Johnson of Alaska Photo Treks is extremely passionate about the aurora. He’s been a photographer since the 1990s. Johnson’s favorite place in Alaska to shoot the aurora is the Brooks Range.<\/p>\n Johnson said aurora chasing involves a lot of sitting, waiting and hoping. <\/p>\n He wears a parka and thermal layers, along with insulated gloves and boots. To pass the time, he\u2019ll bring an iPad loaded with movies, take short naps or take photos of the stars.<\/p>\n 4. If you don\u2019t see the aurora, try using a camera\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n If you step outside on a clear night with a good aurora forecast and see\u2026 nothing, at least snap a quick photo of the sky.<\/p>\n Cameras can reveal an aurora that\u2019s too dim for the naked eye to see, and often capture more vibrant lights than what you see in person. If you don\u2019t have a fancy camera, the one on your smartphone works just fine.<\/p>\n Being a nature photographer has changed the way Johnson views the aurora.<\/p>\n \u201cIt gives me a different way of experiencing the world,\u201d he said. \u201cIt allows me to kind of slow down and connect with the natural world in a way through the camera.\u201d<\/p>\n If you want to start photographing the aurora, Johnson suggests reading some blogs about the best camera settings. Here\u2019s his 10 tips<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1767862454_603_.jpeg\"\/)
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