Bathurst Stargazing & Astronomy Report

Key Sky Quality Metrics

SQM (mag/arcsec²)

19.55

Bortle class

Class 7 (Class 7)

Darkness Quotient

41%

Dataset

August 2026

Suburban/urban transition

Bathurst: The Practical Verdict

Bathurst is a small city in New South Wales, characterised by its mix of urban and suburban environments. Sky conditions here are overall poor for astronomy, with significant light pollution affecting visibility. The primary limitation is the absence of the Milky Way, making deep-sky observations largely impractical.

From Bathurst, the best celestial targets are the Moon, planets, bright double stars, and open clusters. Although the sky here is not ideal for extended deep-sky work, those interested in narrowband imaging with careful processing can still capture some bright nebulae. Targets such as galaxies and faint meteor showers are best avoided due to the level of light pollution.

For observers willing to travel, Bindook, New South Wales, about 95 km south-east, offers markedly darker skies and is a meaningful upgrade for those interested in deep-sky observing.

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

Bindook, New South Wales sits about 96 km south east and reaches Bortle 3, roughly 5.4x darker.

Good dark window

Bathurst'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 Bathurst?

No. Bathurst 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 Bathurst?

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

Is Bathurst good for stargazing?

Not for serious deep-sky observing. Bathurst 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 Bathurst good for astrophotography?

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

What can you observe from Bathurst?

Primary targets from Bathurst 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 Bathurst?

The closest meaningfully darker mapped site is Black Jerry Ridge Road, New South Wales, about 70 km east south east of Bathurst, reaching Bortle 4.

When is the sky darkest in Bathurst?

The sky over Bathurst is darkest around June, July.

Is light pollution in Bathurst getting better or worse?

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

• Black Jerry Ridge Road, New South Wales

  Direction

  ESE

  Distance (km)

  70.4

  SQM

  20.90

  Bortle

  4

• Bindook, New South Wales

  Direction

  SE

  Distance (km)

  96.3

  SQM

  21.39

  Bortle

  3

• Tesselate Hill, New South Wales

  Direction

  E

  Distance (km)

  87.9

  SQM

  21.05

  Bortle

  4