Solar Flare Could Spark Aurora Display Over Alaska This Week

Insomniacs and night owls could be rewarded with their first summer glimpse of the northern lights tonight.

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By Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Story Created: Aug 3, 2011 at 4:32 PM AKDT

Story Updated: Aug 3, 2011 at 4:32 PM AKDT

FAIRBANKS - Insomniacs and night owls could be rewarded with their first summer glimpse of the northern lights tonight.

The University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute is forecasting high aurora activity during the early morning hours for at least the next two nights, thanks to a “large solar event” near the central part of the sun on Tuesday. That flare should translate into good viewing conditions at least through Friday morning.

Weather permitting, displays will be visible above almost the entire state — from Barrow to Bethel, Dillingham and Ketchikan — according to the forecast by Charles Deehr.

Sporadic aurora activity continues year round above Alaska, but the long daylight hours generally keeps the northern lights from being visible during much of the summer. With more than 6 hours between sunset and sunrise, Interior Alaska is now getting enough darkness to view the aurora when activity occurs during the early morning hours.

Today, the sun will set at 10:56 p.m. and rise Thursday at 4:56 a.m., a decrease of daylight of 6 minutes, 57 seconds from Tuesday.

Contact the newsroom at 459-7572.

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Aurora Dude said on Wednesday, Aug 3 at 6:44 PM

Oh wait, Excuse me. The sun just set on Prudhoe. It still hasn't set in Barrow. Friday will be their first "sunset" of the season.

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Anonymous said on Wednesday, Aug 3 at 6:18 PM

Thanks for the tip Aurora Dude!

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Aurora Dude said on Wednesday, Aug 3 at 5:00 PM

Please don't waste your time heading north for viewing. The sun only set at barrow for the first time yesterday. It does not get dark there yet. In Fairbanks the sun only gets 6 degrees below the horizon so it is also not dark there yet. Anchorage area will have marginal darkness between 1:00 and 3:00 a.m. Further south could be better if anything comes of these flares.

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