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Where to stand
Watch from inside the town, away from street lights, or with a guided tour, for example at the Churchill Northern Studies Centre about 20 km east. Look up to the zenith and north over the bay. Do not walk alone outside the built-up area after dark.
View towards the pole
Flat tundra and Hudson Bay to the north
Sky darkness (Bortle scale): 4
Rules and safety
Churchill runs a Polar Bear Alert programme, because polar bears come to the edge of town, especially in October and November. Do not walk to the shore, the rocks or Cape Merry at night, and stay within the built-up area. Report a bear on 204-675-2327 (204-675-BEAR).
About the spot
Churchill is a small town on Hudson Bay in northern Manitoba, reached only by air or rail. It sits at a geomagnetic latitude of about 67°, under the auroral oval, so the aurora is frequent from autumn to spring. Polar bears live in the area, which changes the rules for going out at night.
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