Aurora adventures await in…

Canada

Banff •Churchill •Whitehorse •Yellowknife

Faroe Islands

Tórshavn

Finland

Inari •Levi •Luosto •Rovaniemi

Greenland

Ilulissat •Kangerlussuaq •Nuuk

Iceland

Akureyri •Reykjavík

Norway

Alta •Lofoten •Tromsø

Shetland

Lerwick

Svalbard

Longyearbyen

Sweden

Abisko •Kiruna

USA

Anchorage •Fairbanks •Healy

Anchorage

Home / Anchorage

Anchorage, Alaska’s largest city, is in the south-central part of the state on the Cook Inlet. It’s known for its cultural sites, including the Alaska Native Heritage Center, which displays traditional crafts, stages dances, and presents replicas of dwellings from the area’s indigenous groups. The city is also a gateway to nearby wilderness areas and mountains including the Chugach, Kenai and Talkeetna

The northern lights can be seen from September to April with the best viewing in winter.

How are my chances of seeing the aurora today?

3%

There is a 3% chance of seeing the aurora overhead in the Anchorage area (forecast for 19 September 2025 at 9:33am UTC)

Kp 0.67

The Kp-index is a scale used to measure geomagnetic activity. It ranges from 0 to 9, with higher values indicating greater geomagnetic activity.

  • 0-2 (Very low) Far north, quite dim, and not very active.
  • 3-5 (Moderate) Can be seen further south, with increased brightness and activity. Chance of good viewing conditions nearer the pole.
  • 6-7 (High) Visible in many northern regions, with vibrant displays.
  • 8-9 (Extreme) Widespread visibility, often seen in areas much further south than usual, with intense and colorful displays.
Bz 1 nT

Bz refers to the north-south orientation of the magnetic field embedded in the solar wind. It is measured in nanoteslas (nT).

When Bz is negative (southward), it allows solar wind particles to penetrate the Earth’s magnetic field more easily. A strong negative Bz is often associated with increased chances of seeing the Northern Lights.

Conversely, when Bz is positive (northward), the Earth’s magnetic field tends to block the solar wind, resulting in reduced auroral activity.

Density 0.58 p/cm3

Solar wind density refers to the number of charged particles in a given volume of the solar wind, typically measured in particles per cubic centimeter (p/cm3).

A typical solar wind density is around 2.76 p/cm3.

The density of the solar wind affects how many particles reach the Earth’s magnetosphere. A higher density means more particles are available to interact with the Earth’s magnetic field. When these charged particles collide with the gases in the Earth’s atmosphere, energy is released in the form of light that we see as the aurora.

Speed 425.2 km/s

Solar wind speed refers to the velocity at which charged particles are ejected from the Sun’s outer atmosphere, known as the corona.

A typical solar wind speed is about 375 km/s. When both speed and density are high, the energy transferred to the Earth’s magnetosphere increases, enhancing the chances of seeing vibrant auroras.

Rain

9°C Feels like 8°C

High
12°C
Low
9°C
  • Precipitation: 87%
  • Cloud cover: 100%
  • Wind: 4 km/h
  • Rain: 5mm

Moon

Waning crescent

  • Sun rises at: 7:37am
  • Sun sets at: 8:09pm
  • Moon rises at: 4:38am
  • Moon sets at: 7:52pm

Book an amazing adventure in Anchorage

  • Free cancellation Likely to sell out

    Wilderness, Wildlife, Glacier Experience from Anchorage

    4.9 (2960)

    6 hours From £149.73

    Experience the Big Outdoors and Portage Glacier Cruise! See the amazing beauty that surrounds Anchorage. This special tour does not follow any set route. Nor does it follow a time table. Use your time wisely by going into the wilderness to see wildlife and view glaciers. Summer only: an option, on a 80 ft. cruise ship. (available 11am departure only and May 15 - Sep 15) We follow the sun, the wind and our hearts to navigate your vacation towards the most scenic locations capable for the day of your tour. The Wilderness Wildlife Glacier Experience includes entrance into the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. During summer you'll have an option to include a glacier cruise on the mv Ptarmigan. Learn about our rich history and see the Ring of Glaciers. This award winning tour can not be replicated by any other service or shuttle. The Wilderness Wildlife Glacier Experience offers highly trained Guides who's sole purpose is making your vacation memories last a lifetime.

  • Free cancellation

    26 Glacier Cruise and Coach from Anchorage, AK

    4.6 (321)

    11 hours From £251.63

    We make it easy to see it all in one day! Relax on the coach as the driver guide narrates while you enjoy the beauty of Turnagain Arm. On the cruise get ready to view one of the largest concentration of glaciers in Alaska. Weather, ice conditions and wildlife activity changes daily and our captains may adjust the route to provide the best cruise experience while keeping your safety and comfort a top priority. We take pride in ensuring that your time with us is an enjoyable memory that becomes a favorite highlight of your Alaska vacation. We operate first-class catamarans. Due to their dual hull design, these powerful high-speed catamarans are extremely stable and able to smoothly navigate through the narrow fjords and passages that lead us to the face of massive glaciers. By operating safely and efficiently, Phillips provides a comfortable cruise and our No Seasickness Guarantee assures nervous cruisers the confidence that they will enjoy our cruise without any unpleasant effects.

  • Free cancellation

    Anchorage Trolley Tour

    4.6 (2598)

    1 hour From £18.72

    All Aboard, Anchorage’s favorite city tour! Hop on our fully narrated trolley tour as we travel 15 miles through Anchorage's most scenic and historic sites. Hear the most riveting moments in Anchorage’s history, from our past to present-day life. Watch as seaplanes splash land on Lake Hood, travel back in time at Earthquake Park to see the shock waves frozen in time, explore Anchorage's oldest neighborhoods, and so much more. All along the way, help spot our most famous Alaskan resident, the mighty moose. Every minute of the tour, you’ll be guided by a local Alaskan sharing why they love Anchorage. Every ticket comes with a complimentary coupon book with over 40 businesses within walking distance for saving on restaurants, gift shops, other tours and local attractions. So, when you’re ready to get the “lay of the land” or just have an hour in town, this tour is the perfect way to begin your adventure in Anchorage!

  • Free cancellation

    Glacier View & Wildlife Anchorage Adventure Tour

    4.9 (278)

    7 hours From £117.54

    The Experience Award wining Tour in Anchorage on Viator (2025) Discover Alaska’s beauty, picked up from your hotel in Anchorage, in the most all-inclusive way possible. This small-group adventure combines an Anchorage tour, glaciers, wildlife, and breathtaking scenery—all in a single day. Highlights: Travel in comfort with a new Sprinter luxury van and a local Alaskan guide. Visit the Chugach National Forest and Explorer Glacier. Take a self guided walk on the Byron Glacier Trail. ( Seasonal) Enjoy guaranteed wildlife encounters with bears, moose, wolves, and more at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. Take in scenic stops including Beluga Point, Virgin Creek Falls and Turnagain Arm. Small group limited to 11 travelers for a personal, uncrowded experience. We are a locally owned and operated Alaskan Family Company. We've curated these tours from our years of experience to provide the best possible experience for our guests!

  • Free cancellation

    26 Glacier Tour, Self-Drive from Anchorage, AK

    4.7 (158)

    5 hours From £178.68

    For guests in Anchorage or Girdwood with their own transportation, this 5-hour cruise offers a smooth cruise to view dynamic glaciers and a variety of wildlife, surrounded by the pristine wilderness of Prince William Sound. The cruise route covers 140 miles and features areas such as Port Wells, Esther Passage, College Fjord, Harriman fjord or Blackstone Bay. Due to weather, ice flows, and wildlife activity, our captains adapt to these changing conditions to provide the best cruise experience, while keeping your safety and comfort a top priority. Our friendly and attentive crew will strive to make this cruise a favorite highlight of your Alaska vacation. Our industry-exclusive No Seasickness Guarantee assures every guest will cruise in comfort while enjoying our cruise. All cruises are operated on first-class high-speed catamarans that provide an extremely stable cruise and can smoothly navigate through the narrow fjords and ice flows to reach the face of massive glaciers.

  • Free cancellation

    Grand Knik Helicopter Tour - 2 hours 3 landings - ANCHORAGE AREA

    4.9 (356)

    2 hours From £570.43

    Our signature flightseeing and glacier landing tour, includes 30 mins of flightseeing and 30 mins landed at 3 Glacier areas including on the glacier itself. This tour includes an alpine landing where you will have 30 mins to see the grand size of the 5 mile wide and 29 mile long Knik Glacier with a birds eye view. Your 2nd landing takes you to a 100 foot ice wall where you may even be able to see the massive ice calve . After 30 minutes exploring you go to the glacier landing right in the middle of Knik Glacier, where you can get out of the helicopter and spend about 30 minutes exploring ancient ice. See the azure blue melt pools (summer), crevasses and ice formations created by water, wind and the sun. During your flight seeing, keep your eyes open for the area wildlife to include Moose, Mountain Goats, Dall Sheep, Bears and even wolf on occasion! WINTER OCT-APR LANDING IS NOT ON GLACIER AS POOLS ARE FROZEN- LANDING IS NEXT TO GLACIER Total tour time - 2 hours, includes 3 landings

Places to check out around Anchorage

Discover Restaurants, Parks, Hiking Trails and more…

Other places in The USA

Fairbanks•Healy

See also

Aurora Forecast•Planning Your Northern Lights Adventure•Northern Lights Photography•Science Of The Aurora•Northern Lights Playlist

Alaska Museum of Science & Nature

Home / Anchorage / Alaska Museum of Science & Nature

Alaska Museum of Science & Nature is a Science Museum at 201 N Bragaw St, Anchorage, AK 99508, United States

The non-profit Alaska Museum of Natural History fills a special need for science education in Alaska. No other organization in the state educates exclusively on Alaska's unique geological, cultural, and ecological history.

Website • Phone: (907) 274-2400

What do people think of Alaska Museum of Science & Nature?

4.3

  • Take a walk through Alaskan history as you explore one of the state's largest collection of rocks, minerals, and fossils. The snowy owl diorama is beautifully set under a full moon. - NASA

    11 January 2011

  • so much fun..u need to go and bring ur kids - mell s

    30 December 2012

  • terrific museum about Alaska history - ongoing special exhibits - Denise Z

    13 November 2011