Albany Stargazing & Astronomy Report

Key Sky Quality Metrics

SQM (mag/arcsec²)

19.65

Bortle class

Class 6 (Class 6)

Darkness Quotient

42%

Dataset

May 2026

Bright suburban sky

Albany: The Practical Verdict

Albany, a small city in Western Australia, sits under a moderately light-polluted sky. The overall stargazing experience here is somewhat limited, dominated by suburban light pollution that obscures many fainter celestial objects. The primary constraint is the sky brightness making the Milky Way invisible from this location.

In Albany, stargazing is still viable, particularly if your targets include the Moon, bright planets, double stars, or open clusters. Narrowband imaging of bright nebula cores is also feasible. However, faint objects such as broadband galaxies and the Milky Way are mostly out of reach due to the pervasive light pollution.

For those seeking darker skies, Wellstead to the east north-east offers a significant upgrade in sky quality, being a Bortle 2 site about 85 km away. This location provides a valuable opportunity for enthusiasts keen on deeper sky observations.

At a Glance

Overall

Limited suburban sky - This is a limited sky for astronomy. The brightest targets remain accessible, but faint deep-sky observing is heavily compromised.

Milky Way

Not visible - The sky background is generally too bright for a reliable Milky Way view.

Best targets from here

Moon, planets, double stars, bright open clusters, narrowband imaging, bright nebula cores

Do not prioritise

broadband galaxies, reflection nebulae, visual faint nebulae, Milky Way photography

Best nearby upgrade

Wellstead, Western Australia sits about 85 km east north east and reaches Bortle 2, roughly 8.2x darker.

Good dark window

Albany's longest dark windows fall in June and July, with the shortest nights around December and January. For deep-sky imaging, winter gives the best combination of long nights and true astronomical darkness.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you see the Milky Way from Albany?

No. Albany is a Bortle Class 6 sky with SQM 19.65, so the Milky Way is not visible from the city. For Milky Way photography, look for a Bortle 4 or darker site.

What Bortle class is Albany?

Albany is Bortle Class 6 (SQM 19.65), a limited suburban sky for astronomy.

Is Albany good for stargazing?

Not for serious deep-sky observing. Albany is a limited suburban sky where the Moon, planets, and a handful of bright targets are the realistic options from the city itself.

Is Albany good for astrophotography?

Broadband deep-sky imaging is heavily compromised from Albany and a Bortle 4 or darker site is strongly recommended. Narrowband imaging of bright emission nebulae remains viable from Albany with appropriate Ha or OIII filters.

What can you observe from Albany?

Primary targets from Albany include Moon, planets, double stars, bright open clusters, narrowband imaging. Targets such as broadband galaxies, reflection nebulae, visual faint nebulae are not realistic from this sky.

Where are darker skies near Albany?

The closest meaningfully darker mapped site is Frenchman Bay, Western Australia, about 8 km south south east of Albany, reaching Bortle 3.

When is the sky darkest in Albany?

The sky over Albany is darkest around June, July.

Is light pollution in Albany getting better or worse?

Long-term light pollution over Albany has been broadly stable across the available measurements.

• Frenchman Bay, Western Australia

  Direction

  SSE

  Distance (km)

  8.1

  SQM

  21.37

  Bortle

  3

• Manypeaks, Western Australia

  Direction

  ENE

  Distance (km)

  26.5

  SQM

  21.66

  Bortle

  3

• Kronkup, Western Australia

  Direction

  WSW

  Distance (km)

  22.3

  SQM

  21.48

  Bortle

  3

• Wellstead, Western Australia

  Direction

  ENE

  Distance (km)

  85

  SQM

  21.93

  Bortle

  2

• Lake Muir, Western Australia

  Direction

  WNW

  Distance (km)

  125.6

  SQM

  21.80

  Bortle

  2