Northern lights in Fairbanks

Alaska, United States. Darkness calculated 24 October 2026 with Astronomy Engine 2.1.19 (MIT licence).

A city in interior Alaska, far from the coast. The sky here is dark enough for the aurora from September to March.

A huge green arc of northern lights over a snowy road and a lake edged with trees
The northern lights over Bear Lake, Eielson Air Force Base, near Fairbanks, Alaska. Photo: United States Air Force photo by Senior Airman Joshua Strang, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

Month by month

Pick a month for dark-hour times, Moon dates and what to expect.

Hours of darkness, month by month

Hours with the Sun more than 12° below the horizon, on the 15th of each month
MonthDark hoursAurora possible?
January14.1 hYes, if active and clear
February11.6 hYes, if active and clear
March8.5 hYes, if active and clear
April3.4 hOnly a short dark spell
MaynoneNo: too light
JunenoneNo: too light
JulynoneNo: too light
AugustnoneNo: too light
September6.9 hYes, if active and clear
October10.6 hYes, if active and clear
November13.4 hYes, if active and clear
December14.8 hYes, if active and clear

The darkest weeks ahead

New Moons in the dark season. The week around each one has the least moonlight.

On the ground

Being inland, winter nights are very cold. Dress for well below freezing.

Whatever the month, check two forecasts on the day: the aurora forecast from NOAA and the cloud forecast for where you are. How to read the aurora forecast.

Full checklist for choosing a tour.

Other places: Tromsø, Abisko, Rovaniemi, Reykjavík, Yellowknife, Inverness. Compare all seven.

Sources