Paterson Stargazing & Astronomy Report

Light pollution and stargazing locations near Paterson

City
Paterson
Country
United States
Latitude
40.9168
Longitude
-74.1718

Key Sky Quality Metrics

SQM (mag/arcsec²)
17.45
Bortle class
Class 9 (Class 9)
Darkness Quotient
19%
Dataset
May 2026

Inner city sky

Paterson: The Practical Verdict

Paterson, located in New Jersey, is a small city with significant urban light pollution, influenced further by its proximity to New York, about 25 km to the south-south-east. This severely limits astronomical observations, with the sky quality being best described as a severe urban sky. Extreme light pollution means the Milky Way is not visible, and observing conditions are greatly restricted.

Despite the challenging light conditions, observing the Moon, planets, and bright stars remains viable. Double stars and solar system events are also within reach, while narrowband imaging will require some care. Avoid visual deep-sky objects and faint nebulae observing altogether, as these targets suffer substantially under Paterson's inner city skies.

For those seeking better observing conditions, heading north-north-west to Ferndale, New York around 105 km away offers a good upgrade with a Bortle 4 sky. It is a significant improvement and well worth considering for serious astronomical pursuits.

At a Glance

Overall
Severe urban sky - This is a severely light-polluted urban sky. Only the Moon, planets, bright stars, and a few specialist targets remain practical.
Milky Way
Not visible - The Milky Way is not visible from this sky.
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
Ferndale, New York sits about 105 km north north west and reaches Bortle 4, roughly 24x darker.
Good dark window
Paterson'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 Paterson?

No. Paterson is a Bortle Class 9 sky with SQM 17.45, 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 Paterson?

Paterson is Bortle Class 9 (SQM 17.45), a severe urban sky for astronomy.

Is Paterson good for stargazing?

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

Is Paterson good for astrophotography?

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

What can you observe from Paterson?

Primary targets from Paterson 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 Paterson?

The closest meaningfully darker mapped site is Upper Greenwood Lake, New Jersey, about 33 km north north west of Paterson, reaching Bortle 6.

When is the sky darkest in Paterson?

The sky over Paterson is darkest around January, December.

Is light pollution in Paterson getting better or worse?

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

north - fair

A trace of skyglow near the north horizon. Stars are clear throughout this direction except very close to the ground.

north-north-east - marginal

The north-north-east sky shows a clear glow near the ground. Above about 20 degrees the sky returns to workable.

north-east - marginal

The north-east sky shows a clear glow near the ground. Above about 20 degrees the sky returns to workable.

east-north-east - marginal

The east-north-east lower sky is measurably brighter than the darker quarters. Limit faint work to above about 20 degrees here.

east - marginal

Noticeable glow on the east horizon. Stars below about 20 degrees in this direction are dimmed.

east-south-east - poor

The east-south-east sky is washed out near the horizon. Most constellation stars in the lower sky here are not visible.

south-east - poor

Heavy light pollution to the south-east. The lower 30 degrees of sky in this direction are unusable for faint targets.

south-south-east - poor

The south-south-east sky is washed out near the horizon. Most constellation stars in the lower sky here are not visible.

south - poor

The south sky is washed out near the horizon. Most constellation stars in the lower sky here are not visible.

south-south-west - marginal

The south-south-west sky shows a clear glow near the ground. Above about 20 degrees the sky returns to workable.

south-west - marginal

A diffuse glow sits on the south-west horizon. Faint objects below 20 degrees in this direction are compromised.

west-south-west - marginal

The west-south-west sky shows a clear glow near the ground. Above about 20 degrees the sky returns to workable.

west - fair

A trace of skyglow near the west horizon. Stars are clear throughout this direction except very close to the ground.

west-north-west - fair

Faint glow on the west-north-west horizon. Most stars are visible to low elevation; only the faintest near the ground are affected.

north-west - marginal

The north-west lower sky is measurably brighter than the darker quarters. Limit faint work to above about 20 degrees here.

north-north-west - fair

Light glow detectable on the north-north-west horizon. The effect fades quickly with elevation and does not affect overhead work.

zenith - poor

The zenith sky is bright. The Milky Way is absent and most constellation stars are not visible.

  • Upper Greenwood Lake, New Jersey
    Direction
    NNW
    Distance (km)
    33.3
    SQM
    20.01
    Bortle
    6
  • Oxford Depot, New York
    Direction
    WSW
    Distance (km)
    46.3
    SQM
    19.87
    Bortle
    6
  • Craig's Crest, Pennsylvania
    Direction
    WNW
    Distance (km)
    69.8
    SQM
    20.39
    Bortle
    5
  • Ferndale, New York
    Direction
    NNW
    Distance (km)
    105
    SQM
    20.88
    Bortle
    4
  • South Amenia, New York
    Direction
    NNE
    Distance (km)
    113.9
    SQM
    20.10
    Bortle
    6
  • Laysville, Connecticut
    Direction
    ENE
    Distance (km)
    166.3
    SQM
    20.28
    Bortle
    6