Bandung Institute of Technology Stargazing & Astronomy Report

Key Sky Quality Metrics

SQM (mag/arcsec²)

18.81

Bortle class

Class 8 (Class 8)

Darkness Quotient

31%

Dataset

July 2026

City sky

Bandung Institute of Technology: The Practical Verdict

The Bandung Institute of Technology in West Java, set in an urban area, suffers from significant light pollution. Its sky quality falls into the category of a Poor city sky, making for less-than-ideal stargazing conditions. The Milky Way is not visible here, as the bright urban background dominates the night sky.

Observing under these conditions tends to favour brighter celestial objects. The Moon, planets, and bright stars are visible, as well as solar system events and double stars. However, visual deep-sky observing and capturing faint nebulae or broad galaxies would be largely futile. For those keen on imaging, narrowband techniques may be attempted, but broadband methods are likely to be overwhelmed by the sky's brightness.

To find significantly better viewing conditions, head south-south-east to Singajaya in West Java, some 70 kilometres away. This site offers an upgrade to Bortle 4 conditions, making it a worthwhile drive for any serious deep-sky observer.

At a Glance

Overall

Poor city sky - This is a poor city sky. The Milky Way is not visible and most deep-sky observing is unrealistic from the location itself.

Milky Way

Not visible - The Milky Way is erased by the bright urban sky background.

Best targets from here

Moon, planets, bright stars, double stars, solar system events, narrowband imaging only with care

Do not prioritise

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

Best nearby upgrade

Singajaya, West Java sits about 72 km south south east and reaches Bortle 4, roughly 6.3x darker.

Long dark window

Bandung Institute of Technology retains astronomical darkness throughout the year, so seasonality is less extreme than at higher latitudes. The main limitation is light pollution, not the length of the dark window.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you see the Milky Way from Bandung Institute of Technology?

No. Bandung Institute of Technology is a Bortle Class 8 sky with SQM 18.81, 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 Bandung Institute of Technology?

Bandung Institute of Technology is Bortle Class 8 (SQM 18.81), a poor city sky for astronomy.

Is Bandung Institute of Technology good for stargazing?

Not for serious deep-sky observing. Bandung Institute of Technology is a poor city sky where the Moon, planets, and a handful of bright targets are the realistic options from the city itself.

Is Bandung Institute of Technology good for astrophotography?

Broadband deep-sky imaging is heavily compromised from Bandung Institute of Technology and a Bortle 4 or darker site is strongly recommended. Even narrowband imaging is difficult from Bandung Institute of Technology without careful processing.

What can you observe from Bandung Institute of Technology?

Primary targets from Bandung Institute of Technology include Moon, planets, bright stars, double stars, solar system events. Targets such as visual deep-sky observing, broadband galaxies, reflection nebulae are not realistic from this sky.

Where are darker skies near Bandung Institute of Technology?

The closest meaningfully darker mapped site is Sukaluyu, West Java, about 38 km south south west of Bandung Institute of Technology, reaching Bortle 5.

When is the sky darkest in Bandung Institute of Technology?

The sky over Bandung Institute of Technology is darkest around May, October.

Is light pollution in Bandung Institute of Technology getting better or worse?

Long-term light pollution over Bandung Institute of Technology has been broadly stable across the available measurements.

• Sukaluyu, West Java

  Direction

  SSW

  Distance (km)

  37.7

  SQM

  20.34

  Bortle

  5

• Sukabakti, West Java

  Direction

  SW

  Distance (km)

  52.2

  SQM

  20.76

  Bortle

  5

• Lengkong, West Java

  Direction

  ESE

  Distance (km)

  43.2

  SQM

  20.17

  Bortle

  6

• Gunungsembung, West Java

  Direction

  NNE

  Distance (km)

  49.9

  SQM

  20.27

  Bortle

  6

• Singajaya, West Java

  Direction

  SSE

  Distance (km)

  72

  SQM

  20.80

  Bortle

  4

• Kroya, West Java

  Direction

  NE

  Distance (km)

  61

  SQM

  20.46

  Bortle

  5