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Rule Northern Lights

Talkeetna - Northern Lights - Alaska

Talkeetna, Alaska, United States

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

No opportunities right now
Here’s what usually blocks matches

No Northern Lights opportunities in the next 14 days

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Rule requirements (key thresholds)
Aurora Quality · ≥ 50.0% Solar Elevation · ≤ -8.0° Aurora Activity · ≥ 50.0% Total Cloud Coverage · ≤ 30.0%

Tip: Scroll down to the 72-hour table to see exactly which condition fails hour by hour.

Most common blockers (next 72 hours)
Aurora Quality 100% failing
Aurora Activity 100% failing
Total Cloud Coverage 81% failing

Currently

Real-time conditions
Aurora Quality
0%
Kp IndexKp 4 (Unsettled)
Sun Elevation6.7° (Daylight)
Cloud Cover3%

Upcoming Opportunities

When all conditions match, PhotoWeather marks an opportunity window.

Times shown in America/Anchorage

No opportunities in the next 10 days

See the blocker timeline below to understand which conditions are preventing matches.

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
1matching hours in the next 95 hoursJump to next match
AND logic: all conditions required
Meets requirement
Misses requirement
Time
America/Anchorage
Aurora Quality
≥ 50.0%
Solar Elevation
≤ -8.0°
Aurora Activity
≥ 50.0%
Total Cloud Coverage
≤ 30.0%
Visibility
≥ 8000.0m
Sun, Feb 15
10:000%6.4°56%100%404m
11:000%11°0%100%320m
12:000%14°0%100%255m
13:000%15°0%96%487m
14:000%15°0%97%9301m
15:000%13°56%93%12144m
16:000%8.8°56%60%8832m
17:000%3.7°56%95%1992m
18:000%-2.4°49%99%649m
19:000%-9.2°52%100%239m
20:000%-16°63%99%748m
21:000%-23°43%98%1131m
22:000%-29°39%58%9102m
23:000%-34°38%86%2444m
Mon, Feb 16
24:000%-38°28%94%827m
01:000%-40°27%76%746m
02:000%-39°24%90%3546m
03:000%-36°14%98%2162m
04:000%-32°56%84%2247m
05:0066%-26°56%18%14080m
06:0046%-19°39%28%24133m
07:0055%-12°40%4.6%24135m
08:0049%-5.5°41%2.8%24134m
09:0019%1.3°33%2.8%24135m
10:005%6.7°33%2.6%24134m
11:000%11°33%2.6%24134m
12:000%14°17%0.2%24135m
13:000%16°17%0.2%24134m
14:000%15°17%3.3%24134m
15:000%13°29%16%24135m
16:000%9.1°29%11%24135m
17:000%4°29%100%24134m
18:000%-2.1°29%99%24135m
19:000%-8.9°29%100%24135m
20:000%-16°29%100%24134m
21:000%-23°13%100%24135m
22:000%-29°13%100%24134m
23:000%-34°13%100%24135m
Tue, Feb 17
24:000%-38°13%100%24134m
01:000%-40°13%100%24134m
02:000%-39°13%100%24135m
03:000%-36°6.2%100%24134m
04:000%-32°6.2%100%7731m
05:000%-26°6.2%100%7344m
06:000%-19°0%100%12920m
07:000%-12°0%98%12715m
08:000%-5.2°0%8.7%19174m
09:000%1.6°0%3.5%24135m
10:000%7°0%3.5%24134m
11:000%12°0%3.3%24134m
12:000%15°13%3.5%24135m
13:000%16°13%76%24135m
14:000%15°13%12%24135m
15:000%13°13%71%24135m
16:000%9.4°13%73%24134m
17:000%4.3°13%63%24135m
18:000%-1.8°13%99%24135m
19:000%-8.6°13%100%24135m
20:000%-16°13%100%24135m
21:000%-22°13%100%24135m
22:000%-29°13%100%24135m
23:000%-34°13%100%24135m
Wed, Feb 18
24:000%-38°6.2%100%24135m
01:000%-39°6.2%100%24135m
02:000%-39°6.2%99%24134m
03:000%-36°6.2%100%24134m
04:000%-31°6.2%100%24135m
05:000%-25°6.2%100%24134m
06:000%-19°0%100%24135m
07:000%-12°0%100%24135m
08:000%-4.9°0%100%24134m
09:000%1.9°9.1%100%24135m
10:000%7.3°9.1%100%24134m
11:000%12°9.1%100%24135m
12:000%15°17%100%24135m
13:000%16°17%100%10555m
14:000%16°17%100%5008m
15:000%14°37%100%646m
16:000%9.7°37%100%1060m
17:000%4.6°37%100%1475m
18:000%-1.4°37%100%1889m
19:000%-8.3°37%97%3309m
20:000%-15°37%93%4729m
21:000%-22°37%90%6149m
22:000%-28°37%91%5447m
23:000%-34°37%93%4746m
Thu, Feb 19
24:000%-37°37%95%4044m
01:000%-39°37%82%5334m
02:000%-38°37%70%6623m
03:000%-35°37%57%7913m
04:000%-31°37%71%6207m
05:000%-25°37%86%4501m
06:000%-18°37%100%2794m
07:000%-11°37%82%9908m
08:000%-4.5°37%65%17022m
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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