Dundee Stargazing & Astronomy Report

Key Sky Quality Metrics

SQM (mag/arcsec²)

18.94

Bortle class

Class 7 (Class 7)

Darkness Quotient

32%

Dataset

July 2026

Suburban/urban transition

Dundee: The Practical Verdict

Dundee is a small city in Dundee City, with high light pollution affecting its skies. The stargazing quality here is poor, characterised by an urban/suburban transition atmosphere. The primary difficulty stems from the overwhelming glow which obscures the Milky Way entirely.

From this setting, your sky viewing will primarily feature the Moon, planets, and brighter targets like open clusters or double stars. Narrowband imaging can yield results, but requires careful processing to mitigate the glare. Avoid attempts at visual deep-sky observations or broadband imaging, as the light pollution severely impacts these pursuits.

For those seeking a meaningful upgrade, head about 70 km north north-west to Aberdeenshire, where a darker Bortle 3 sky improves your chances for deep-sky satisfaction.

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

Aberdeenshire sits about 72 km north north west and reaches Bortle 3, roughly 10x darker.

Moderate dark window

Dundee's limiting factor is not only light pollution. Around midsummer, Dundee loses true astronomical darkness entirely, so deep-sky observing and imaging are strongly seasonal. Plan serious sessions around the darker months.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you see the Milky Way from Dundee?

No. Dundee is a Bortle Class 7 sky with SQM 18.94, 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 Dundee?

Dundee is Bortle Class 7 (SQM 18.94), a poor urban/suburban sky for astronomy.

Is Dundee good for stargazing?

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

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

What can you observe from Dundee?

Primary targets from Dundee 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 Dundee?

The closest meaningfully darker mapped site is Monifieth, about 12 km east of Dundee, reaching Bortle 5.

When is the sky darkest in Dundee?

The sky over Dundee is darkest around January, December. Major high-latitude limitation: around 100 nights per year have no true astronomical darkness.

Is light pollution in Dundee getting better or worse?

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

• Middlefield Farm

  Direction

  S

  Distance (km)

  15.1

  SQM

  20.90

  Bortle

  4

• Kingask

  Direction

  SE

  Distance (km)

  19.4

  SQM

  20.97

  Bortle

  4

• Monifieth

  Direction

  E

  Distance (km)

  11.5

  SQM

  20.33

  Bortle

  5

• Potarch

  Direction

  NNE

  Distance (km)

  69.6

  SQM

  21.41

  Bortle

  3

• Aberdeenshire

  Direction

  NNW

  Distance (km)

  72.4

  SQM

  21.44

  Bortle

  3

• Highland

  Direction

  WNW

  Distance (km)

  120.1

  SQM

  21.66

  Bortle

  3