London Stargazing & Astronomy Report

Key Sky Quality Metrics

SQM (mag/arcsec²)

18.14

Bortle class

Class 8 (Class 8)

Darkness Quotient

24%

Dataset

July 2026

City sky

London: The Practical Verdict

London in Ontario is a mid-size city with a dense urban environment. The stargazing experience here is notably poor due to high light pollution, rendering the city sky quite unfriendly for astronomical pursuits. The overwhelming brightness of London severely limits deep-space observations, with the vast Milky Way entirely obscured.

For those interested in the night sky, only the brightest celestial bodies can effectively pierce through the city's luminous veil. Observing the Moon, planets, and some bright stars is feasible, but broader deep-sky delights such as widefield views of the Milky Way and faint nebulae are best omitted. Narrowband imaging might yield some results if approached cautiously.

A meaningful step forward could be a visit to West Grey, Ontario, north-north-east of London. This area offers visibly better conditions for deep-sky observations and is worth considering for an enhanced astronomical experience.

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

West Grey, Ontario sits about 115 km north north east and reaches Bortle 4, roughly 13x darker.

Good dark window

London'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 London?

No. London is a Bortle Class 8 sky with SQM 18.14, 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 London?

London is Bortle Class 8 (SQM 18.14), a poor city sky for astronomy.

Is London good for stargazing?

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

Is London good for astrophotography?

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

What can you observe from London?

Primary targets from London 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 London?

The closest meaningfully darker mapped site is Dawn-Euphemia, Ontario, about 73 km west south west of London, reaching Bortle 5.

When is the sky darkest in London?

The sky over London is darkest around January, December.

Is light pollution in London getting better or worse?

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

• Dawn-Euphemia, Ontario

  Direction

  WSW

  Distance (km)

  73.1

  SQM

  20.40

  Bortle

  5

• Townsend Centre, Ontario

  Direction

  E

  Distance (km)

  82.1

  SQM

  20.32

  Bortle

  5

• Lake County, Ohio

  Direction

  S

  Distance (km)

  98.6

  SQM

  20.59

  Bortle

  5

• Southwestern Ontario, Ontario

  Direction

  SE

  Distance (km)

  90.7

  SQM

  20.31

  Bortle

  5

• West Grey, Ontario

  Direction

  NNE

  Distance (km)

  115.2

  SQM

  20.95

  Bortle

  4

• Southwestern Ontario, Ontario

  Direction

  SW

  Distance (km)

  170

  SQM

  20.59

  Bortle

  5