Lévis Stargazing & Astronomy Report

Key Sky Quality Metrics

SQM (mag/arcsec²)

18.42

Bortle class

Class 8 (Class 8)

Darkness Quotient

27%

Dataset

July 2026

City sky

Lévis: The Practical Verdict

Lévis is a small city in Quebec, marked by its suburban characteristics. However, the city experiences high light pollution, significantly compromising the quality of its night sky. With a Bortle class of 8, it offers poor conditions for any serious astronomical observation without some constraints.

The milky glow of the city sky effectively erases all traces of the Milky Way, leaving stargazers focusing mainly on the Moon, planets, and bright stars. Solar system events can still draw some interest, and narrowband imaging is possible if done with care on select targets. However, visual deep-sky observing is best avoided, being largely ineffective against the city's bright backdrop.

For those seeking clearer skies, Les Éboulements to the north-east offers a compelling upgrade for deep-sky pursuits. Approximately 90 km away, it promises a meaningfully darker sky under Bortle 3 conditions, making the distance worthwhile for more ambitious observations.

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

Les Éboulements, Quebec sits about 92 km north east and reaches Bortle 3, roughly 18x darker.

Moderate dark window

Lévis'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 Lévis?

No. Lévis is a Bortle Class 8 sky with SQM 18.42, 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 Lévis?

Lévis is Bortle Class 8 (SQM 18.42), a poor city sky for astronomy.

Is Lévis good for stargazing?

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

Is Lévis good for astrophotography?

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

What can you observe from Lévis?

Primary targets from Lévis 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 Lévis?

The closest meaningfully darker mapped site is Saint-Louis-de-Blandford, Quebec, about 90 km south west of Lévis, reaching Bortle 4.

When is the sky darkest in Lévis?

The sky over Lévis is darkest around January, December.

Is light pollution in Lévis getting better or worse?

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

• Les Éboulements, Quebec

  Direction

  NE

  Distance (km)

  91.5

  SQM

  21.57

  Bortle

  3

• Saint-Louis-de-Blandford, Quebec

  Direction

  SW

  Distance (km)

  90.1

  SQM

  20.88

  Bortle

  4

• Lower Enchanted Township, Maine

  Direction

  SSE

  Distance (km)

  183.7

  SQM

  21.46

  Bortle

  3