Dunfermline Stargazing & Astronomy Report

Key Sky Quality Metrics

SQM (mag/arcsec²)

19.73

Bortle class

Class 6 (Class 6)

Darkness Quotient

43%

Dataset

April 2026

Bright suburban sky

Dunfermline: The Practical Verdict

Dunfermline, located in Fife, is a small city with moderate light pollution affecting its night sky. With Bortle 6 brightness levels, the Milky Way is not visible, and stargazing is limited to brighter targets.

The Moon and planets are accessible from Dunfermline, alongside features like bright open clusters and double stars. Imaging can make use of narrowband filters for core regions of emission nebulae, though broadband imaging and faint deep-sky objects are unlikely to succeed due to the overall illumination.

For a significant upgrade, the site at Dalmally about 100 km west north-west offers Bortle 3 skies. This is worth the travel for observers seeking a substantially darker view and reliable access to deep-sky targets.

At a Glance

Overall

Limited suburban sky - This is a limited sky for astronomy. The brightest targets remain accessible, but faint deep-sky observing is heavily compromised.

Milky Way

Not visible - The sky background is generally too bright for a reliable Milky Way view.

Best targets from here

Moon, planets, double stars, bright open clusters, narrowband imaging, bright nebula cores

Do not prioritise

broadband galaxies, reflection nebulae, visual faint nebulae, Milky Way photography

Best nearby upgrade

Dalmally sits about 99 km west north west and reaches Bortle 3, roughly 5.0x darker.

Moderate dark window

Dunfermline's limiting factor is not only light pollution. Around midsummer, Dunfermline 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 Dunfermline?

No. Dunfermline is a Bortle Class 6 sky with SQM 19.73, 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 Dunfermline?

Dunfermline is Bortle Class 6 (SQM 19.73), a limited suburban sky for astronomy.

Is Dunfermline good for stargazing?

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

Is Dunfermline good for astrophotography?

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

What can you observe from Dunfermline?

Primary targets from Dunfermline include Moon, planets, double stars, bright open clusters, narrowband imaging. Targets such as broadband galaxies, reflection nebulae, visual faint nebulae are not realistic from this sky.

Where are darker skies near Dunfermline?

The closest meaningfully darker mapped site is Falkland, about 25 km north east of Dunfermline, reaching Bortle 5.

When is the sky darkest in Dunfermline?

The sky over Dunfermline is darkest around January, December. Major high-latitude limitation: around 97 nights per year have no true astronomical darkness.

Is light pollution in Dunfermline getting better or worse?

There is not yet enough long-term data to give a confident trend for Dunfermline.

• Falkland

  Direction

  NE

  Distance (km)

  25.2

  SQM

  20.73

  Bortle

  5

• Langrig

  Direction

  ESE

  Distance (km)

  81.5

  SQM

  21.45

  Bortle

  3

• Ochiltree

  Direction

  SSW

  Distance (km)

  12.9

  SQM

  20.23

  Bortle

  6

• Dalmally

  Direction

  WNW

  Distance (km)

  98.5

  SQM

  21.48

  Bortle

  3

• Aberdeenshire

  Direction

  ESE

  Distance (km)

  97.9

  SQM

  21.42

  Bortle

  3

• Dumfries and Galloway

  Direction

  SSW

  Distance (km)

  96.4

  SQM

  21.24

  Bortle

  4