I will be visiting PEI at the end of October 2025. Is it possible to see the Aurora from PEI during that time of year? If so, is there an optimal location? Thank you!

Hello Christine,

Thank you for your question to Ask an Islander.

I love this question because I am a bit of a sky nerd, so you might get more then you are asking for in this reply!!

The aurora borealis (Northern Lights) is very dependant on the solar flares from the sun. These amazing ribbons of dancing light is truly a wonder to see. This past October, I was laying on the beach in Brackley (Find Ross Lane, take a blanket, snacks, hot cocoa, a flash light, good company and a great camera!) waiting for my eyes to adjust to the darkness. I could hear the foxes barking at each other. No worries, they are curious but do not tend to come close. Turn on the flash light and they will run away! Back to the skies, oh they were marvelous!!! It takes a moment and you think, "Did I miss it?" Take a picture with your camera, it will pick up the colours. Teal green like the Mallard Duck, emerald green like the Rockerfeller Emerald, mauve like a prom dress, purple like Barney is about to fall from the sky and in October and then a meteor strikes across the sky like a painters brush on a canvas. Then where you look at the sky, you will then be able to start making out the dancing shapes of the lights. 

The Orionids peak in October around the 20th-21st and there will be a new moon then!! The new moon means very little light interference, so with the 20ish meteors an hour, your evening should be impressive. I tend to be out there about 2 am, but I find any time after midnight until predawn works! 

The North and South Taurids will be starting up on different dates, but with clear skies, I am hoping they will be active enough to add some bright, quick zips of white and yellow streaks in the sky.

The best locations are the darkest area you can find. I love the beach. Cavendish, Brackley Beach, Cousin Shores are some of my favourite locations. I like getting that one picture in Brackley of the Cove Head light House with the Northern Lights. Then I want to get away from everyone and enjoy the show. I spent an evening laying on my back on one of the beaches, hot chocolate, picnic snacks and a warm blanket or two or three and I got the most amazing video of the aurora, the meteors and you can hear the foxes singing!! Okay, maybe not singing, maybe they were hoping for snacks, but it was wonderful!!

I highly recommend going the day of or before and checking out the spot, because walking in an area like that at night is completely different then the day.

Enjoy, look up, make a wish.

Erin Davis