These 12 pictures capture the darker side of our state, Alaska at night. Only, there isn’t anything eerie or dark about these pictures at all. All these captured photos of the Alaska night time seem to glow with a beauty you can’t find just anywhere… or maybe that’s just the Northern Lights in the background. With the Alaska dark season, it’s easy to find the beauty in the night sky. Without further ado, please enjoy these 12 spectacular shots of Alaska at night!
- The Aurora over a home in Fairbanks.
ron james | Flickr The Northern Lights are one of the best things about Alaska at night. When you’re browsing through Alaska photography, the aurora borealis photos really stand out. You can do more than snap photos of the stellar celestial show, though. There are several places you can camp under the Northern Lights in Alaska.
- Night falling on Juneau.
Jeff Walters | Flickr The community of Juneau is as appealing as ever under the Alaskan stars. Juneau boasts more than great views of the Northern Lights. It’s also where you’ll find one of the most unique Airbnbs in Alaska.
- Anchorage city lights freezing in the air.
Fred Rhoades III | Flickr The sky over Anchorage lights up some nights and creates crystal spheres when it’s cold enough. You’ll see unique photographic images when looking through photos of Alaska at night. When in Anchorage, consider booking a stay at the Historic Anchorage Hotel, one of the most haunted places in Alaska.
- The Northern Lights waving goodbye to planes leaving Alaska.
Kevan Dee | Flickr What a beautiful long exposure of the Northern Lights and airplane trails across the night sky. Of course, when it comes to planes, you’ll get the best views when embarking on these aerial adventures in Alaska.
- The night sky over the Gold Mint Glacier Trail.
Cecil Sanders | Flickr Even falling into darkness is beautiful in Alaska. The beauty of Alaska is even able to be captured at night! Although, as one of the most beautiful hikes in Alaska, the Gold Mint Glacier Trail offers great vistas day AND night.
- The annual firework show over Alyeska Resort in Girdwood.
Eric Teela | Flickr It’s hard to beat the beauty of fireworks over some of the best slopes in the state! A great visit year-round, Alyeska Resort is one of the top resorts in Alaska.
- The aurora outside your cabin window.
Snowshoe Photography | Flickr No matter how cold and snowy it is, the Northern Lights will always warm you up in a special way, which is why they’re one of the best things about Alaska night time.
- The moon glowing through dancing snowflakes and spruce bows.
JLS Photography - Alaska | Flickr How eerie and beautiful is this shot?
- The aurora showing off early in the morning darkness.
Snowshoe Photography | Flickr Sometimes the Northern Lights can shine bright enough to read by. Who needs the moon?!
- Even Campbell Airstrip Road looks good in the glowing moonlight.
Laura Avellaneda-Cruz | Flickr Snow makes everything a bit dreamier, doesn’t it? Of course, Campbell Airstrip Road is just one of the scenic roads in Alaska.
- The moon glowing down.
FairbanksMike | Flickr The wolves of Alaska are howling. The natural beauty of Alaska really shines through in these nighttime pictures.
- Prudhoe Bay at night.
jweston_40 | Flickr What a shockingly beautiful picture of the Alaskan oil field! Alaska photography encompasses many different beautiful pictures, including cities, geographic landscapes, and natural phenomena like the aurora borealis. A drive along the Dalton Highway is a great way to explore Prudhoe Bay, along with several other scenic sights.
So, what do you think of the Alaska dark season? Which is your favorite of these photos of Alaska at night? We’re partial to the Northern Lights shots! If there are photos you love that you didn’t see on this list, share them with us!
ron james | Flickr
The Northern Lights are one of the best things about Alaska at night. When you’re browsing through Alaska photography, the aurora borealis photos really stand out. You can do more than snap photos of the stellar celestial show, though. There are several places you can camp under the Northern Lights in Alaska.
Jeff Walters | Flickr
The community of Juneau is as appealing as ever under the Alaskan stars. Juneau boasts more than great views of the Northern Lights. It’s also where you’ll find one of the most unique Airbnbs in Alaska.
Fred Rhoades III | Flickr
The sky over Anchorage lights up some nights and creates crystal spheres when it’s cold enough. You’ll see unique photographic images when looking through photos of Alaska at night. When in Anchorage, consider booking a stay at the Historic Anchorage Hotel, one of the most haunted places in Alaska.
Kevan Dee | Flickr
What a beautiful long exposure of the Northern Lights and airplane trails across the night sky. Of course, when it comes to planes, you’ll get the best views when embarking on these aerial adventures in Alaska.
Cecil Sanders | Flickr
Even falling into darkness is beautiful in Alaska. The beauty of Alaska is even able to be captured at night! Although, as one of the most beautiful hikes in Alaska, the Gold Mint Glacier Trail offers great vistas day AND night.
Eric Teela | Flickr
It’s hard to beat the beauty of fireworks over some of the best slopes in the state! A great visit year-round, Alyeska Resort is one of the top resorts in Alaska.
Snowshoe Photography | Flickr
No matter how cold and snowy it is, the Northern Lights will always warm you up in a special way, which is why they’re one of the best things about Alaska night time.
JLS Photography - Alaska | Flickr
How eerie and beautiful is this shot?
Sometimes the Northern Lights can shine bright enough to read by. Who needs the moon?!
Laura Avellaneda-Cruz | Flickr
Snow makes everything a bit dreamier, doesn’t it? Of course, Campbell Airstrip Road is just one of the scenic roads in Alaska.
FairbanksMike | Flickr
The wolves of Alaska are howling. The natural beauty of Alaska really shines through in these nighttime pictures.
jweston_40 | Flickr
What a shockingly beautiful picture of the Alaskan oil field! Alaska photography encompasses many different beautiful pictures, including cities, geographic landscapes, and natural phenomena like the aurora borealis. A drive along the Dalton Highway is a great way to explore Prudhoe Bay, along with several other scenic sights.
Alaska night time photos aren’t the only state pictures that are sure to stun. Need some convincing? Then check out these photos, when the sun made Alaska the most beautiful place on Earth.
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Address: Alaska, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
Alaska At Night June 03, 2020 Megan McDonald How many hours of darkness does Alaska receive? This varies throughout the seasons, and depends on your location in Alaska. Alaska is famous for being the “land of the midnight sun,” but the converse is true in the winter time. Although our northernmost cities can enjoy 24 hours of uninterrupted daylight in the summertime, the winter time is filled with as many hours of darkness. In places like Utqiagvik, they enjoy 80 straight days of daylight in the summer months, and 67 days of darkness in the winter months. The largest city in Alaska, Anchorage, enjoys 19 hours of daylight on summer solstice, the longest day of the year. On winter solstice, the darkest day of the year, Anchorage will only receive 5 hours and 27 minutes of daylight. Why is Alaska dark for 6 months of the year? Alaska is not actually dark for six months of the year, even in our northern cities. The entire state experiences varying hours of sunlight and darkness all year long. The long, dark hours of the winter season are due to Alaska’s location on the globe. Because Alaska sits close to the north pole, when we hit the winter season, the tilt of the Earth’s axis creates an environment of long, dark nights as we tilt away from the sun. While Alaska is not technically “night” for six months, we do get longer and longer hours of darkness until we hit winter solstice, usually around December 21st. Then the days grow longer until we hit summer solstice, around June 21st.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Alaska At Night
June 03, 2020
Megan McDonald
How many hours of darkness does Alaska receive? This varies throughout the seasons, and depends on your location in Alaska. Alaska is famous for being the “land of the midnight sun,” but the converse is true in the winter time. Although our northernmost cities can enjoy 24 hours of uninterrupted daylight in the summertime, the winter time is filled with as many hours of darkness. In places like Utqiagvik, they enjoy 80 straight days of daylight in the summer months, and 67 days of darkness in the winter months. The largest city in Alaska, Anchorage, enjoys 19 hours of daylight on summer solstice, the longest day of the year. On winter solstice, the darkest day of the year, Anchorage will only receive 5 hours and 27 minutes of daylight. Why is Alaska dark for 6 months of the year? Alaska is not actually dark for six months of the year, even in our northern cities. The entire state experiences varying hours of sunlight and darkness all year long. The long, dark hours of the winter season are due to Alaska’s location on the globe. Because Alaska sits close to the north pole, when we hit the winter season, the tilt of the Earth’s axis creates an environment of long, dark nights as we tilt away from the sun. While Alaska is not technically “night” for six months, we do get longer and longer hours of darkness until we hit winter solstice, usually around December 21st. Then the days grow longer until we hit summer solstice, around June 21st.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
This varies throughout the seasons, and depends on your location in Alaska. Alaska is famous for being the “land of the midnight sun,” but the converse is true in the winter time. Although our northernmost cities can enjoy 24 hours of uninterrupted daylight in the summertime, the winter time is filled with as many hours of darkness. In places like Utqiagvik, they enjoy 80 straight days of daylight in the summer months, and 67 days of darkness in the winter months. The largest city in Alaska, Anchorage, enjoys 19 hours of daylight on summer solstice, the longest day of the year. On winter solstice, the darkest day of the year, Anchorage will only receive 5 hours and 27 minutes of daylight.
Why is Alaska dark for 6 months of the year?
Alaska is not actually dark for six months of the year, even in our northern cities. The entire state experiences varying hours of sunlight and darkness all year long. The long, dark hours of the winter season are due to Alaska’s location on the globe. Because Alaska sits close to the north pole, when we hit the winter season, the tilt of the Earth’s axis creates an environment of long, dark nights as we tilt away from the sun. While Alaska is not technically “night” for six months, we do get longer and longer hours of darkness until we hit winter solstice, usually around December 21st. Then the days grow longer until we hit summer solstice, around June 21st.
