Paterson Stargazing & Astronomy Report

Key Sky Quality Metrics

SQM (mag/arcsec²)

17.45

Bortle class

Class 9 (Class 9)

Darkness Quotient

19%

Dataset

July 2026

Inner city sky

Paterson: The Practical Verdict

Paterson is a small city in New Jersey with a distinctly suburban setting. The sky quality here is categorically poor for astronomy due to extreme light pollution, classifying it under a severe urban sky. The main limitation is the overwhelming brightness from nearby New York to the south-south-east, rendering the Milky Way invisible.

In these conditions, observing is restricted to the brightest celestial bodies: the Moon, planets, and prominent stars. Observing deep-sky objects is virtually out of the question, and most nebulae will remain unseen. While narrowband imaging might pick up the brightest nebulae, broad-spectrum images will be heavily dominated by light pollution.

For a meaningful upgrade, Middle Smithfield Township in Pennsylvania offers slightly better skies about 85 km to the west-north-west. It's a Bortle 5 location but doesn't provide a dramatic difference in clarity.

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

Limited nearby upgrade

Middle Smithfield Township, Pennsylvania is the strongest nearby option but remains Bortle 5; the improvement is real but modest.

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 Town of Tuxedo, New York, about 37 km south east 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?

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

• Town of Tuxedo, New York

  Direction

  SE

  Distance (km)

  36.8

  SQM

  19.69

  Bortle

  6

• Middle Smithfield Township, Pennsylvania

  Direction

  WNW

  Distance (km)

  82.9

  SQM

  20.42

  Bortle

  5

• Town of Lewisboro, New York

  Direction

  ENE

  Distance (km)

  64.2

  SQM

  19.73

  Bortle

  6

• Frenchtown, New Jersey

  Direction

  WSW

  Distance (km)

  87.6

  SQM

  19.80

  Bortle

  6

• Alford, Massachusetts

  Direction

  NNE

  Distance (km)

  158.1

  SQM

  20.51

  Bortle

  5

• Winslow Township, New Jersey

  Direction

  SSW

  Distance (km)

  152.4

  SQM

  19.96

  Bortle

  6