Dunfermline Stargazing & Astronomy Report

Key Sky Quality Metrics

SQM (mag/arcsec²)

19.62

Bortle class

Class 6 (Class 6)

Darkness Quotient

42%

Dataset

August 2026

Bright suburban sky

Dunfermline: The Practical Verdict

Dunfermline, a small city in Fife, suffers from moderate light pollution. The sky here is limited by bright suburban glow, rendering it less than ideal for deep-sky observations. The primary limitation comes from the light dome of Edinburgh, which is significant even at a distance of 20 km to the south-east.

The contrast at Dunfermline is stark when attempting to view the Milky Way, which is not visible from this location. Observers should focus on brighter targets such as the Moon, planets, and double stars. Bright open clusters can be appreciated here, but broadband galaxies and nebulae should be avoided due to the sky's brightness.

For those willing to drive, the skies improve significantly at Kames West Mains to the east-south-east, around 80 km away. This site offers a Bortle 3 sky and provides a substantially darker environment for dedicated astronomers.

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

Kames West Mains sits about 82 km east south east and reaches Bortle 3, roughly 5.4x 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 19.62, 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 19.62), 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 Kames West Mains, about 82 km east south east of Dunfermline, reaching Bortle 3.

When is the sky darkest in Dunfermline?

The sky over Dunfermline is darkest around January, December. Major high-latitude limitation: around 96 nights per year have no true astronomical darkness.

Is light pollution in Dunfermline getting better or worse?

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

• Kames West Mains

  Direction

  ESE

  Distance (km)

  81.6

  SQM

  21.46

  Bortle

  3

• Aberdeenshire

  Direction

  ESE

  Distance (km)

  98.6

  SQM

  21.44

  Bortle

  3

• Edendonich

  Direction

  WNW

  Distance (km)

  100.2

  SQM

  21.46

  Bortle

  3

• Polgown

  Direction

  SSW

  Distance (km)

  92.6

  SQM

  21.10

  Bortle

  4

• Claonaig

  Direction

  WSW

  Distance (km)

  124.2

  SQM

  21.64

  Bortle

  3

• Corrieyairack Pass

  Direction

  NW

  Distance (km)

  132.4

  SQM

  21.66

  Bortle

  3