Burnaby Stargazing & Astronomy Report

Key Sky Quality Metrics

SQM (mag/arcsec²)

18.14

Bortle class

Class 8 (Class 8)

Darkness Quotient

24%

Dataset

August 2026

City sky

Burnaby: The Practical Verdict

Burnaby, a mid-size city located in British Columbia, suffers from high light pollution, reflected in its poor city sky quality. The Milky Way is not visible here, and overall, the night sky is dominated by urban glow, greatly limiting deep-sky observations. Light pollution from nearby Vancouver to the west-north-west further impacts visibility.

Bright objects such as the Moon, planets, and double stars are the most prominent features in Burnaby. Narrowband imaging is possible with care, though broadband attempts will struggle against city light. Visual deep-sky observations are not feasible due to sky brightness.

For a meaningful upgrade in sky quality, consider travelling to Area D on Texada Island, located about 110 km to the west-north-west. This site offers considerably darker skies, making it worth the trip for serious astronomical pursuits.

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 D (Texada Island), British Columbia sits about 110 km west north west and reaches Bortle 3, roughly 25x darker.

Moderate dark window

Burnaby'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 Burnaby?

No. Burnaby 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 Burnaby?

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

Is Burnaby good for stargazing?

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

Is Burnaby good for astrophotography?

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

What can you observe from Burnaby?

Primary targets from Burnaby 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 Burnaby?

The closest meaningfully darker mapped site is Mayne, British Columbia, about 51 km south south west of Burnaby, reaching Bortle 4.

When is the sky darkest in Burnaby?

The sky over Burnaby is darkest around January, December.

Is light pollution in Burnaby getting better or worse?

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

• Mayne, British Columbia

  Direction

  SSW

  Distance (km)

  50.8

  SQM

  20.86

  Bortle

  4

• Area B (Halfmoon Bay), British Columbia

  Direction

  WNW

  Distance (km)

  58

  SQM

  21.05

  Bortle

  4

• Port Stanley, Washington

  Direction

  S

  Distance (km)

  77.8

  SQM

  21.01

  Bortle

  4

• Area D (Texada Island), British Columbia

  Direction

  WNW

  Distance (km)

  109.5

  SQM

  21.62

  Bortle

  3

• Area F (Cowichan Lake South / Skutz Falls), British Columbia

  Direction

  WSW

  Distance (km)

  117.2

  SQM

  21.49

  Bortle

  3

• Jefferson County, Washington

  Direction

  SSW

  Distance (km)

  176.1

  SQM

  21.63

  Bortle

  3