Albury Stargazing & Astronomy Report

Key Sky Quality Metrics

SQM (mag/arcsec²)

19.55

Bortle class

Class 7 (Class 7)

Darkness Quotient

41%

Dataset

April 2026

Suburban/urban transition

Albury: The Practical Verdict

Albury, a small city in New South Wales, offers skies with moderate urban light pollution. Stargazing opportunities from here are notably reduced, as key features like the Milky Way are entirely obscured. Planetary and lunar observations are the most practical options.

The sky allows for limited night-time explorations with a focus on brighter targets. Views of the Moon, planets, and prominent open clusters are possible, but deep-sky objects such as faint galaxies or nebulae require alternative methods like narrowband imaging. Photographic attempts at capturing broadband targets or faint stellar centres are not recommended.

For observers seeking true dark-sky conditions, Cobungra in Victoria offers a meaningful improvement. Located south-south-east of Albury, around 115 km away, its Bortle Class 2 sky promises exceptional visibility for deep-sky observations.

At a Glance

Overall

Poor urban/suburban sky - This is a poor sky for astronomy. The Moon, planets, and a few bright objects remain viable, but deep-sky work is difficult.

Milky Way

Not visible - The Milky Way is not realistically visible from this level of light pollution.

Best targets from here

Moon, planets, bright double stars, bright open clusters, narrowband imaging with careful processing

Do not prioritise

visual deep-sky observing, broadband galaxies, reflection nebulae, Milky Way photography

Best nearby upgrade

Cobungra, Victoria sits about 116 km south south east and reaches Bortle 2, roughly 7.2x darker.

Good dark window

Albury'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 Albury?

No. Albury is a Bortle Class 7 sky with SQM 19.55, 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 Albury?

Albury is Bortle Class 7 (SQM 19.55), a poor urban/suburban sky for astronomy.

Is Albury good for stargazing?

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

Is Albury good for astrophotography?

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

What can you observe from Albury?

Primary targets from Albury include Moon, planets, bright double stars, bright open clusters, narrowband imaging with careful processing. Targets such as visual deep-sky observing, broadband galaxies, reflection nebulae are not realistic from this sky.

Where are darker skies near Albury?

The closest meaningfully darker mapped site is Cobungra, Victoria, about 116 km south south east of Albury, reaching Bortle 2.

When is the sky darkest in Albury?

The sky over Albury is darkest around June, July.

Is light pollution in Albury getting better or worse?

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

• Cobungra, Victoria

  Direction

  SSE

  Distance (km)

  116

  SQM

  21.70

  Bortle

  2

• Ingeegoodbee, New South Wales

  Direction

  SE

  Distance (km)

  144.4

  SQM

  21.79

  Bortle

  2

• Island Bend Road, New South Wales

  Direction

  E

  Distance (km)

  145

  SQM

  21.73

  Bortle

  2