Aurora Borealis and Star Gazing

A stable camera set to a long exposure will help capture impressive images of the aurora borealis

courtesy of robb hannawacker

 

Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights)

The aurora is a beautiful, if hard to predict, phenomenon, occurring year-round. Only in the fall, winter and early spring, however, is there enough darkness to allow us to see the northern lights when they occur.

By the second week of August, the night sky is dark enough to potentially allow views of the aurora. The amount of darkness increases each night, as Denali turns farther and farther away from the sun. By the winter solstice, Denali sees little more than five hours of sunlight, thus providing a lengthy period of darkness in which you can potential see the aurora - though some scientists assert that the phenomenon is most active near the equinoxes (i.e., September 21 and March 21, approximately).

There are aurora forecasting websites, as there are for other weather phenomena. Type "aurora forecast" into your favorite search engine and you should find a number of useful forecasting websites.

 

 

Stargazing

With long hours of darkness, the fall, winter and early spring can be a fantastic time to view stars in Denali.

By the second week of August, roughly, the skies are dark enough to allow some great views of the night sky from midnight until two or three in the morning. Denali loses daylight rapidly in late August and September, so that you need not be a night-owl to enjoy the night sky by late September.

The long hours of darkness continue through early April, though by the end of that month the sun is making its stunning, and often welcome, return; and it eventually obscures all glimpses of the stars during the summer months.

 

Clear, cold nights can be amazing opportunities to view stars when in Denali.

nps photo / jacob w. frank