Free · no app store · no sign-up
Northern lights alerts for Fairbanks, on your phone
Get a buzz when the aurora is out over Fairbanks and the sky is clear enough to see it, or when the University of Alaska's sky camera catches it. Works on iPhone and Android.
First, add ANN to your Home Screen
On iPhone, alerts only work from the ANN app on your Home Screen. It takes ten seconds:
- Tap the Share button at the bottom of Safari.
- Scroll and tap Add to Home Screen, then Add.
- Open ANN Aurora from your Home Screen and come back to this page (it's under the menu, or tap the alerts card on Tonight).
Needs iOS 16.4 or newer. Using Chrome on iPhone? Open annaurora.com/alerts in Safari for this step.
This browser can't get alerts
Try Chrome, Edge or Firefox on a phone or computer, or Safari on an iPhone with ANN added to the Home Screen. For big nights, you can also get a text with Kp Code Red.
Alerts are off on this device
When does it buzz?
- Only after dark, when the aurora can actually be seen.
- Only when the sky over Fairbanks is clear or has clear breaks, from SkyCommand's cloud forecast.
- Only when the aurora is really going: Kp 4 or more right now, the solar wind's magnetic field pointing south and staying there, or a solar storm arriving.
- At most once a night, plus one more if it turns into a big storm. No ads, no sign-up, no phone number.
Alerts are a forecast reading, not a promise: the aurora comes in waves, so give it a few minutes once you're outside. Want a heads-up days ahead for a big night? Try Kp Code Red.
How to get the ANN app
iPhone
- Open annaurora.com in Safari.
- Tap Share, then Add to Home Screen.
- Open ANN Aurora from your Home Screen, tap the bell and turn on alerts.
Needs iOS 16.4 or newer.
Android
- Open annaurora.com in Chrome.
- Tap the bell (Alerts), then Turn on aurora alerts and Allow.
- Optional: menu ⋮ → Add to Home screen so it opens like an app.
Change your choices, send a test or turn alerts off any time: tap the bell at the top of any ANN page.
Aurora alert questions
Is there a free northern lights alert app for Fairbanks?
Yes. ANN Aurora is free and built for Fairbanks and Interior Alaska. Add annaurora.com to your Home Screen and turn on alerts on this page. No app store, no account, no phone number.
How do I get aurora alerts on my iPhone?
In Safari, open annaurora.com/alerts, tap Share, then Add to Home Screen. Open ANN Aurora from your Home Screen, come back to Alerts and tap Turn on aurora alerts. iPhone needs iOS 16.4 or newer.
How do I get northern lights alerts on Android?
Open annaurora.com/alerts in Chrome and tap Turn on aurora alerts, then Allow. You can also add ANN to your home screen from Chrome's menu so it opens like an app.
When will ANN send an aurora alert?
Only after dark, and only when the aurora is really going and the sky over Fairbanks is clear or has clear breaks, or when the University of Alaska all-sky camera near Fairbanks shows aurora. On a big night you also get a short alert, with the picture, each time aurora shows up on one of the FAA weather cameras around the Interior (Delta Junction, Salcha, Healy and others): at most one every 10 minutes and six a night. Otherwise at most one alert a night, plus one more if it turns into a big storm.
Will it wake me up at 2 AM?
Only if you want it to. Choose All night (some of the best shows come after midnight) or Not after midnight to stay quiet from 12 AM to 9 AM.
What's the difference between ANN alerts and Kp Code Red?
ANN alerts tell you the aurora is out right now, so step outside. Kp Code Red is a text or email days ahead when a big aurora night is coming, early enough to plan or fly up.
ANN keeps only what your browser needs to deliver the alert and your two choices. Turn it off here any time, or in your phone's notification settings.