Anchorage Museum : Anchorage : Seek The Aurora

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.

Credit: Sara Loeffler
Credit: Vasilis Karkalas
Credit: Pixabay
Credit: Tomáš Malík
Credit: Angelica Reyn
Credit: Howard Herdi
Credit: Zetong Li

How are my chances of seeing the aurora today?

Many factors contribute to your likelihood of viewing the aurora in Anchorage. Geomagnetic activity, cloud cover and the amount of ambient light all play a big part. Check the forecasts for how good the viewing conditions are today.

4%

There is a 4% chance of seeing the aurora overhead in the Anchorage area (forecast for 6 November 2025 at 5:07pm UTC)

Kp 2.33

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 -3 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 aurora activity.

Density 3.26 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 540.8 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.

Moon

Waning gibbous

Sunrise 8:42am

Sunset 4:44pm

Moonrise 3:54pm

Moonset 11:58am

Snow

-5°C Feels like -11°C

High: -2°C
Low: -5°C

Chance of precipitation 97%
Cloud cover 100%
Northerly winds 7 km/h gusts of 11 km/h
Snow 5 mm

Book an amazing adventure in Anchorage

Explore this selection of tours and activities to make the most of your visit to Anchorage.

Free cancellation

Glacier View & Wildlife Anchorage Adventure Tour

4.9 (311)

7 hours From £122.57

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 Special offer

Glacier Hike on Matanuska Glacier - Best Vacation Value

4.9 (447)

7 hours 30 minutes From £233.42

Walk on an authentic Alaska Glacier. This is a life changing experience goes beyond any sightseeing tour or activity shuttle. This is an epic activity that is "boots to the ground" adventure, however the level of involvement is entirely at the traveler's discretion. The excursion is senior friendly and scaled for extreme levels. Departs downtown Anchorage and heads northward outside its city limits. Enjoy an abundance of scenic and mountainous views.
Free cancellation Special offer

Wilderness, Wildlife, Glacier Experience from Anchorage

4.9 (2996)

6 hours From £156.13

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

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

4.9 (368)

2 hours From £594.81

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
Free cancellation

Matanuska Glacier Winter Tour

5.0 (119)

8 hours From £293.58

Visit Alaska's largest road accessible glacier on this wonderful full day tour. Glacier Park Entrance Fee and Lunch Included.
Free cancellation

Anchorage Northern Lights Tour

4.7 (120)

6 - 9 hours From £276.56

Embark on a journey to view and photograph the aurora borealis in the greater Anchorage area. Aurora Borealis portraits, snacks, drinking water, hot drinks, and photo instruction included.