Active aurora borealis displays are forecast to usher in 2015, with clear skies over many parts of Alaska.
A "highly active" aurora is forecast to be visible from Barrow to Juneau, and as far south as Seattle and Chicago, early Saturday, according to the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute's Aurora Forecast.
That means eager aurora viewers will want to stay up Friday night.
In the early hours of Sunday morning, an "active" aurora is again forecast to stretch from Barrow to Juneau, the GI writes.
If you are a serious aurora watcher, "plan to spend the night from about 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. watching for auroral action," GI's website states. "Auroral activity tends to come in waves during an evening. ... Even during an active period, there will be lulls in which the auroral activity is subdued; however, the patient observer will often see a new burst of activity within an hour or two."
Cloud cover, moonlight and light pollution can affect whether the aurora is visible. Luckily for many parts of the state, local forecasts are calling for clear skies. Fairbanks, Anchorage and the Kuskokwim Delta are all forecast to have mostly clear skies on both Friday and Saturday nights. Juneau is forecast to have mostly clear skies on Friday night.
Want to photograph this weekend's displays? Check out these tips and tricks.