Bellevue Stargazing & Astronomy Report

Key Sky Quality Metrics

SQM (mag/arcsec²)

18.14

Bortle class

Class 8 (Class 8)

Darkness Quotient

24%

Dataset

July 2026

City sky

Bellevue: The Practical Verdict

Bellevue, a small city in Washington, sits just east of Seattle and experiences high light pollution. Astronomy quality is poor here, with the sky mostly washed out by urban glow, leaving few visible celestial targets. The primary limiting factor is the brightness from the surrounding urban areas, which erases the Milky Way entirely.

From this suburban setting, observation is best limited to the Moon, planets, and bright stars. Double stars and solar system events stand out against the compromised sky. Though narrowband imaging can be attempted, broadband deep-sky imaging will struggle against substantial sky brightness.

For a meaningful upgrade, consider traveling to Area A (Bamfield) in British Columbia, about 230 km to the north-west, which offers darker skies at Bortle Class 3. Serious astronomical pursuits should plan a trip there for much improved conditions.

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

Area A (Bamfield), British Columbia sits about 232 km north west and reaches Bortle 3, roughly 21x darker.

Moderate dark window

Bellevue's longest dark windows fall in December and January, with the shortest nights around June and July. Plan deep-sky sessions around the autumn and winter months for the best combination of long nights and true astronomical darkness.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you see the Milky Way from Bellevue?

No. Bellevue is a Bortle Class 8 sky with SQM 18.14, 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 Bellevue?

Bellevue is Bortle Class 8 (SQM 18.14), a poor city sky for astronomy.

Is Bellevue good for stargazing?

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

Is Bellevue good for astrophotography?

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

What can you observe from Bellevue?

Primary targets from Bellevue 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 Bellevue?

The closest meaningfully darker mapped site is Port Hadlock, Washington, about 62 km north west of Bellevue, reaching Bortle 5.

When is the sky darkest in Bellevue?

The sky over Bellevue is darkest around January, December.

Is light pollution in Bellevue getting better or worse?

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

• Port Hadlock, Washington

  Direction

  NW

  Distance (km)

  62.3

  SQM

  20.78

  Bortle

  5

• Grays Harbor County, Washington

  Direction

  WSW

  Distance (km)

  111.9

  SQM

  21.09

  Bortle

  4

• Jefferson County, Washington

  Direction

  WNW

  Distance (km)

  111.6

  SQM

  20.81

  Bortle

  4

• Pacific County, Washington

  Direction

  SW

  Distance (km)

  132.2

  SQM

  20.89

  Bortle

  4

• Area A (Bamfield), British Columbia

  Direction

  NW

  Distance (km)

  232.4

  SQM

  21.45

  Bortle

  3