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Rule Northern Lights

Delta Junction - Northern Lights - Alaska

Delta Junction, Alaska, United States

Northern Lights photography conditions - combines aurora activity levels with clear skies and proper darkness for optimal viewing.

Upcoming Opportunities

When all conditions match, PhotoWeather marks an opportunity window.

Times shown in America/Anchorage
Next opportunity
Northern Lights
Delta Junction
Fri, Jan 16 · 18:00–20:00 · 2h window
Low confidence
30%
Northern Lights
Delta Junction
Fri, Jan 16 · 23:00–01:00
Low

What this forecast looks for

Plain-language explanation from the rule

This forecast answers the question every aurora photographer asks: "Can I actually see the aurora tonight?" Unlike simple Kp forecasts, we combine NOAA's OVATION aurora model with real-time cloud cover, visibility, and darkness data to predict true viewing conditions.

Alaska's interior sits directly under the auroral oval, making it one of the world's most reliable aurora viewing destinations. Fairbanks, in particular, experiences aurora activity on roughly 240 nights per year—more than almost anywhere else accessible by road.

What makes Alaska special for aurora photography:

  • Auroral oval position - Fairbanks sits at the ideal 65°N latitude, directly under the oval's typical position
  • Extreme darkness - Winter nights can last 18+ hours, maximizing viewing opportunities
  • Dramatic foregrounds - Snow-covered mountains, frozen rivers, and boreal forests create stunning compositions
  • Research heritage - The University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute provides world-class aurora forecasting

Best conditions typically occur September through March, with peak activity during the equinox months. The interior's continental climate means clearer skies than coastal areas, though temperatures can plunge well below -30°C. Dress accordingly and keep camera batteries warm.

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72-hour requirements breakdown

What passed or failed, hour by hour
0matching hours in the next 72 hours
AND logic: all conditions required
Meets requirement
Misses requirement
Time
America/Anchorage
Solar Elevation
≤ -8.0°
Aurora Activity
≥ 50.0%
Total Cloud Coverage
≤ 30.0%
Visibility
≥ 8000.0m
Sat, Jan 10
10:00-1.9°14%100%600m
11:001.8°14%100%560m
12:003.7°23%100%700m
13:004.3°63%100%700m
14:003.3°63%100%500m
15:000.93°100%100%320m
16:00-3.3°100%100%340m
17:00-8.3°100%85%380m
18:00-14°100%94%460m
19:00-21°100%100%700m
20:00-27°100%97%480m
21:00-33°63%98%400m
22:00-39°63%92%460m
23:00-44°63%96%1060m
Sun, Jan 11
24:00-47°42%98%840m
01:00-48°42%100%520m
02:00-46°42%99%340m
03:00-43°20%96%160m
04:00-38°20%97%280m
05:00-31°20%99%200m
06:00-25°20%100%160m
07:00-18°20%99%460m
08:00-12°20%92%480m
09:00-6.6°26%92%380m
10:00-1.8°26%84%500m
11:001.9°26%81%560m
12:003.9°34%89%620m
13:004.4°34%88%460m
14:003.4°34%90%480m
15:001.1°34%85%460m
16:00-3.1°34%89%480m
17:00-8.1°34%89%540m
18:00-14°34%89%580m
19:00-20°34%90%420m
20:00-27°34%91%340m
21:00-33°20%90%360m
22:00-39°20%87%480m
23:00-44°20%86%740m
Mon, Jan 12
24:00-47°7.5%85%800m
01:00-48°7.5%86%980m
02:00-46°7.5%87%1280m
03:00-42°7.5%86%1240m
04:00-37°7.5%85%1120m
05:00-31°7.5%88%960m
06:00-25°15%93%880m
07:00-18°15%94%900m
08:00-12°15%95%940m
09:00-6.5°20%94%1000m
10:00-1.6°20%93%1060m
11:0020%94%960m
12:0026%96%880m
13:004.6°26%98%940m
14:003.6°26%97%1040m
15:001.2°100%97%920m
16:00-2.9°100%100%1260m
17:00-8°100%100%1540m
18:00-14°100%100%1500m
19:00-20°100%98%1440m
20:00-27°100%100%1620m
21:00-33°100%99%1040m
22:00-39°100%100%840m
23:00-44°100%91%800m
Tue, Jan 13
24:00-47°100%90%840m
01:00-47°100%96%780m
02:00-46°100%96%660m
03:00-42°100%97%720m
04:00-37°100%98%720m
05:00-31°100%97%800m
06:00-25°100%98%1180m
07:00-18°100%97%1160m
08:00-12°100%93%740m
09:00-6.3°100%91%260m
How to read: colored cells show whether each predicate requirement is met; highlighted rows mean the full rule matched (an opportunity).

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