Elevate your local knowledge

Sign up for the iNFOnews newsletter today!

Select Region

Selecting your primary region ensures you get the stories that matter to you first.

Aurora lights up Alaska skies with stunning green and red display

Aurora lights up Alaska skies with stunning green and red display | iNFOnews.ca
The northern lights illuminate the sky over Anchorage, Alaska, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Streaks of shimmering green and red bands exploded in the dark skies above Alaska’s largest city Tuesday as the aurora provided a light show for early morning dog walkers, joggers and commuters.

Anchorage was not alone in seeing vivid displays of the aurora following a major disturbance in the Earth’s magnetic field.

The aurora didn’t disappoint, and its reach overnight Monday and into Tuesday was wide. Social media was lit up with stunning aurora photos from places including Alaska, San Francisco, Chicago, Canada and across Europe.

The intense displays came amid intense geomagnetic and solar radiation storms, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Prediction Center.

In November, solar storms brought vibrant auroras to parts of Europe including Hungary and the United Kingdom, and as far south in the United States as Texas.

Aurora lights up Alaska skies with stunning green and red display | iNFOnews.ca
The northern lights illuminate the sky over Anchorage, Alaska, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)
Aurora lights up Alaska skies with stunning green and red display | iNFOnews.ca
The northern lights illuminate the sky in Anchorage, Alaska, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)
Aurora lights up Alaska skies with stunning green and red display | iNFOnews.ca
The northern lights illuminate the sky in Anchorage, Alaska, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)
Aurora lights up Alaska skies with stunning green and red display | iNFOnews.ca
The northern lights illuminate the sky in Anchorage, Alaska, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)

News from © The Associated Press, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community?

Create a free account

The Associated Press

The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day.

Related Articles