Equinox Aurora

Equinox in Alaska is always monumental — the celestial usher of long summer days or dark winter nights. On March 19, when Fairbanks had almost exactly 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness, we were treated to an exceptionally delightful display of northern lights.

Aurora borealis fills the winter equinox sky in the hills north of Fairbanks, Alaska. Bright lights in the distance are from mining machinery at the nearby Fort Knox Gold Mine. March 19, 2021.

Northern Lights and black spruce forests in the hills north of Fairbanks, Alaska. March 19, 2021.

The rising moon greets a lingering sunset while the northern lights streak overhead and car lights cross the lower frame during a dynamic winter equinox in Fairbanks, Alaska. March 19, 2021.

Alaskan's northern lights

I have a hard time coming up with catchy things to say about the northern lights. Sure, I could infuse this blog post with lots of adjectives and verbs about the brilliant dancing bands cutting through a vast sky speckled with stars that sparkle like diamonds.

No, all I’ll say is that pictures never do the northern lights justice. The following photos were taken along the Steese Highway northeast of Fairbanks, Alaska, on Feb. 15 and 16.

Northern lights fill the sky northeast of Fairbanks along the Steese highway, with car headlights visible in the far distance. Feb 16, 2021. Robin Wood/Media North

Northern lights fill the sky above a forest of scraggly black spruce, northeast of Fairbanks along the Steese highway. Feb 15, 2021. Robin Wood/Media North

Northern Lights

I didn’t have to go far on Feb. 1 to photograph a stunning northern lights show. I just popped out my front door in Fairbanks, Alaska, and set the tripod down to capture a few shots.