Kamloops Stargazing & Astronomy Report

Key Sky Quality Metrics

SQM (mag/arcsec²)

18.81

Bortle class

Class 8 (Class 8)

Darkness Quotient

31%

Dataset

August 2026

City sky

Kamloops: The Practical Verdict

Kamloops, a small city in British Columbia, lies under predominantly High Light Pollution. The urban brightness severely restricts astronomical viewing, with only bright objects such as the Moon, planets, and stars piercing the sky. Astronomical quality from within the city is poor, with the Milky Way completely erased from view.

For observers in Kamloops, focusing on the most luminous celestial targets is practical. These include not only the Moon and planets but also the brightest stars and select double stars. Narrowband imaging may succeed on the brightest nebulae, but broader deep-sky targets like galaxies remain disappointing.

A significant upgrade in sky quality can be achieved by heading to Area K, East Chilcotin, to the north-west. This region offers a meaningfully darker night sky at a Bortle 2 level, where deep-sky objects become accessible in all their glory, making it worth the longer drive for committed astronomers.

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 K (East Chilcotin), British Columbia sits about 253 km north west and reaches Bortle 2, roughly 16x darker.

Moderate dark window

Kamloops'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 Kamloops?

No. Kamloops is a Bortle Class 8 sky with SQM 18.81, 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 Kamloops?

Kamloops is Bortle Class 8 (SQM 18.81), a poor city sky for astronomy.

Is Kamloops good for stargazing?

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

Is Kamloops good for astrophotography?

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

What can you observe from Kamloops?

Primary targets from Kamloops 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 Kamloops?

The closest meaningfully darker mapped site is Area A (Boston Bar/North Bend/Canyon Alpine), British Columbia, about 120 km south west of Kamloops, reaching Bortle 4.

When is the sky darkest in Kamloops?

The sky over Kamloops is darkest around January, December. Significant summer limitation: around 51 nights per year have no true astronomical darkness.

Is light pollution in Kamloops getting better or worse?

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

• Area A (Boston Bar/North Bend/Canyon Alpine), British Columbia

  Direction

  SW

  Distance (km)

  119.8

  SQM

  21.17

  Bortle

  4

• Area C (Pemberton Valley/Mount Currie/D'Arcy), British Columbia

  Direction

  WSW

  Distance (km)

  184

  SQM

  21.18

  Bortle

  4

• Area K (East Chilcotin), British Columbia

  Direction

  NW

  Distance (km)

  252.5

  SQM

  21.84

  Bortle

  2