Live aurora forecast
Northern lights in Fairbanks tonight and this season
Aurora probability over Fairbanks right now from NOAA, the Kp index the city needs by geomagnetic latitude, the nights that get dark enough, calculated from the sun, and the 24 guided tours that pass the catalogue filter.
In short
Northern lights in Fairbanks need a Kp index of 1 or more, because the city sits at 65.7° N geomagnetic latitude and NOAA's rule of thumb puts the edge of the auroral oval at about 66° for Kp 0, 2° closer to the equator per Kp level. Fully dark nights in Fairbanks (sun 18° below the horizon) run from 4 September to 7 April. 24 guided tours leave from Fairbanks with at least 4.3 stars and 20 reviews, from 99 USD. The aurora probability over the city right now, from NOAA's OVATION model, is on this page and refreshes every 15 minutes.
Key points
- Kp needed in Fairbanks: 1 or more, from 65.7° N geomagnetic latitude (WMM2025 dipole)
- Fully dark nights in Fairbanks (sun 18° below the horizon) run from 4 September to 7 April.
- Aurora probability over Fairbanks from NOAA OVATION, refreshed every 15 minutes with the fetch time shown
- 24 guided tours pass the filter of 4.3 stars, 20 reviews and an aurora title
- Kp forecast for the next 3 days in 3-hour slots, and the other places in Alaska for comparison
On this page
1Aurora over Fairbanks right now
Data: NOAA SWPC, fetched 15:06 UTC. Aurora probability by destination from the NOAA OVATION model, forecast for 9 Oct, 16:06 UTC. Aurora also needs a dark and clear sky. Kp needed: NOAA puts the edge of the auroral oval at about 66° geomagnetic latitude for Kp 0, 2° closer to the equator per Kp level. Geomagnetic latitude from the WMM2025 dipole pole (NOAA NCEI).
2The Kp index Fairbanks needs
Fairbanks lies at 64.8° N, which is 65.7° N geomagnetic latitude on the WMM2025 dipole. NOAA's viewing tips put the edge of the auroral oval at about 66° geomagnetic for Kp 0 and move it about 2° closer to the equator with each Kp level, down to 48° at Kp 9. So the oval reaches Fairbanks from Kp 1, the threshold the cards on this site compare with the Kp measured right now. NOAA also notes that aurora can often be observed hundreds of kilometres equatorward of the oval's edge, so a bright display can show low on the northern horizon one Kp level earlier.
3Kp forecast for the next 3 days
| UTC | Fri 9 Oct | Sat 10 Oct | Sun 11 Oct | Mon 12 Oct |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 00-03 | 4.00 | 4.67 G1 | 3.00 | |
| 03-06 | 3.67 | 5.67 G2 | ||
| 06-09 | 3.00 | 4.33 | ||
| 09-12 | 3.00 | 3.00 | ||
| 12-15 | 1.67 | 2.67 | ||
| 15-18 | 5.00 G1 | 2.33 | 2.33 | |
| 18-21 | 6.00 G2 | 2.67 | 2.00 | |
| 21-00 | 5.67 G2 | 2.67 | 2.67 |
Data: NOAA SWPC. Slots before now are NOAA estimates, the rest are predicted values.
4When the sky over Fairbanks is dark enough
The aurora needs a dark sky as much as it needs Kp, and darkness is a matter of latitude and date. Fully dark nights in Fairbanks (sun 18° below the horizon) run from 4 September to 7 April. From 25 April to 17 August the sky never gets darker than nautical twilight, so only a strong display shows, low on the horizon. Dates are an own calculation from the sun's declination for the latitude of Fairbanks, with the US Naval Observatory definitions of twilight, and can be a day off at the edges. Clouds and moonlight are the other half of the question: the home page shows the moon phase for each of the next 27 days.
5Why Alaska for the northern lights
Fairbanks is the aurora capital of the United States: it sits under the oval, the interior climate is dry and cold with many clear nights, and the tourism board's season (Explore Fairbanks) runs from 21 August to 21 April. Anchorage, three hundred miles south on the coast, needs Kp 3 and has more cloud. Most tours on this page leave from Fairbanks.
6Fairbanks compared with the other places in Alaska
The table ranks the 2 places in Alaska on this site by the Kp they need. Fairbanks is the best placed with Kp 1.
| Place | Latitude | Geomagnetic | Kp needed | Tours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairbanks | 64.8° N | 65.7° N | 1 | 24 |
| Anchorage | 61.2° N | 61.9° N | 3 | 3 |
7Northern lights tours in Fairbanks
24 guided tours from Fairbanks pass the catalogue filter (at least 4.3 stars, 20 reviews and the aurora in the title), from 99 USD per person. Prices are starting prices read from the booking catalogue and change with the date. All tours in the country.
Northern Lights & Chena Hot Springs Tour4.6 · 1,350 reviews · 10 hfrom 275 USD
Northern Lights & Arctic Circle Tour4.6 · 990 reviews · 12 hfrom 363 USD
SkyChase™ | Northern Lights Experience - Free Photography & More4.8 · 801 reviews · 5 hfrom 335 USD
Northern Lights - Aurora with FREE Photos - Arctic Night Tours4.9 · 566 reviews · 8 hfrom 225 USD
Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis Viewing) Chasing with Photography in Fairbanks4.8 · 536 reviews · 4 hfrom 189 USD
Mountaintop 360° Best Alaskan Cabin with Photography @Aurora Camp4.7 · 361 reviews · 4 h 30 minfrom 99 USD| Fact | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Coordinates | 64.8° N, 147.7° W | site destination list |
| Geomagnetic latitude | 65.7° N (WMM2025) | NOAA NCEI, own calculation |
| Kp needed | 1+ | NOAA rule of thumb |
| Fully dark nights | 4 September to 7 April | own calculation (Meeus), USNO definitions |
| Too bright for faint aurora | 25 April to 17 August | own calculation (Meeus), USNO definitions |
| Tours that pass the filter | 24, from 99 USD, counted 9 Oct 2026 | booking catalogue |
Source: NOAA NCEI, World Magnetic Model 2025, geomagnetic pole, checked on 9 Oct 2026.
Latest northern lights posts
Frequently asked questions
What Kp index do you need to see the northern lights in Fairbanks?
Kp 1 or more. Fairbanks sits at 65.7° N geomagnetic latitude, and NOAA's rule of thumb puts the edge of the auroral oval there from Kp 1. A brighter display can show low on the northern horizon one level earlier.
When is the best time to see the northern lights in Fairbanks?
Fully dark nights in Fairbanks (sun 18° below the horizon) run from 4 September to 7 April. The darkest skies of the month are the 5 nights around the new moon. The home page shows the moon for each of the next 27 days.
Can you see the northern lights in Fairbanks in summer?
From 25 April to 17 August the sky never gets darker than nautical twilight, so only a strong display shows, low on the horizon.
How many northern lights tours are there in Fairbanks?
24 guided tours from Fairbanks pass the filter of 4.3 stars and 20 reviews, from 99 USD per person, counted from the booking catalogue on 9 Oct 2026.
Is Fairbanks the best place in Alaska for the northern lights?
By Kp needed, yes: Fairbanks needs Kp 1, the lowest of the 2 places in Alaska on this site. Clouds and light decide the rest.
Why does the Fairbanks aurora probability on this page change?
It comes from NOAA's OVATION model, a forecast for the next 30 to 90 minutes, which this site re-reads at most every 15 minutes. The Kp needed, 1, does not change: it is geography.
Sources (6)
Sources
- NOAA SWPC, tips on viewing the aurora, checked on 9 Oct 2026
- NOAA NCEI, World Magnetic Model 2025, geomagnetic pole, checked on 9 Oct 2026
- NOAA SWPC, OVATION aurora forecast model, checked on 9 Oct 2026
- Viator Partner API, catalogue and operator listings, checked on 9 Oct 2026
- US Naval Observatory, rise, set and twilight definitions, checked on 9 Oct 2026
- Explore Fairbanks, aurora season (21 August to 21 April), checked on 9 Oct 2026
Written and maintained by the Kp Forecast editorial team. Independent site, not a space weather agency. Data: NOAA SWPC.
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