Hobart Stargazing & Astronomy Report

Key Sky Quality Metrics

SQM (mag/arcsec²)

18.69

Bortle class

Class 8 (Class 8)

Darkness Quotient

30%

Dataset

July 2026

City sky

Hobart: The Practical Verdict

Hobart, a small city in the region of Tasmania, Australia, suffers from high light pollution. The overall quality of the sky does not favour extensive stargazing, as it is classified as a poor city sky with a Bortle Class 8 rating. The most significant limitation is the near-total erasure of the Milky Way due to the city's bright urban sky background.

Under Hobart's sky, observing conditions limit you to the Moon, planets, bright stars, and double stars. Attempting deep-sky visual observing is largely futile, as visible targets are predominantly limited to solar system events and some narrowband imaging. The densely lit sky greatly diminishes the visibility of faint nebulae and galaxies. The east-north-east horizon presents the greatest glare, while the west-south-west is clearest.

However, for those seeking better conditions, South Bruny lies about 45 km to the south, offering a significantly darker Bortle 2 sky, ideal for serious deep-sky observing.

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

South Bruny, Tasmania sits about 45 km south and reaches Bortle 2, roughly 17x darker.

Good dark window

Hobart's longest dark windows fall in June and July, with the shortest nights around December and January. For deep-sky imaging, winter gives the best combination of long nights and true astronomical darkness.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you see the Milky Way from Hobart?

No. Hobart is a Bortle Class 8 sky with SQM 18.69, 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 Hobart?

Hobart is Bortle Class 8 (SQM 18.69), a poor city sky for astronomy.

Is Hobart good for stargazing?

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

Is Hobart good for astrophotography?

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

What can you observe from Hobart?

Primary targets from Hobart 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 Hobart?

The closest meaningfully darker mapped site is Nugent, Tasmania, about 39 km east north east of Hobart, reaching Bortle 4.

When is the sky darkest in Hobart?

The sky over Hobart is darkest around June, July.

Is light pollution in Hobart getting better or worse?

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

• South Bruny, Tasmania

  Direction

  S

  Distance (km)

  45.1

  SQM

  21.74

  Bortle

  2

• Premaydena, Tasmania

  Direction

  ESE

  Distance (km)

  41

  SQM

  21.51

  Bortle

  3

• Nugent, Tasmania

  Direction

  ENE

  Distance (km)

  38.7

  SQM

  21.20

  Bortle

  4

• Surges Bay, Tasmania

  Direction

  SSW

  Distance (km)

  51.7

  SQM

  21.62

  Bortle

  3

• Hartz Peak, Tasmania

  Direction

  SW

  Distance (km)

  61.2

  SQM

  21.66

  Bortle

  3

• Southwest, Tasmania

  Direction

  WSW

  Distance (km)

  66.4

  SQM

  21.73

  Bortle

  2