Paterson Stargazing & Astronomy Report

Key Sky Quality Metrics

SQM (mag/arcsec²)

17.37

Bortle class

Class 9 (Class 9)

Darkness Quotient

18%

Dataset

April 2026

Inner city sky

Paterson: The Practical Verdict

Paterson, a small city in New Jersey, experiences severe urban sky conditions due to extremely high levels of artificial light pollution. Stargazing here is significantly impaired; the Milky Way is entirely invisible, and only the Moon, bright planets, and the most luminous stars are readily accessible.

For those observing from Paterson, focus on solar system objects like the Moon and planets, bright double stars, and solar events, as these are least affected by the light dome. Deep-sky observations, such as galaxies and nebulae, will not be practical, and imaging efforts should rely on narrowband filters to combat the overwhelming background sky glow.

For darker skies, consider travelling to Coolbaugh Township, about 120 km west-north-west. This nearby site under Bortle 4 skies offers a significant improvement, making the drive worthwhile for dedicated deep-sky observing sessions.

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

Coolbaugh Township, Pennsylvania sits about 120 km west north west and reaches Bortle 4, roughly 25x 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 17.37, 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 17.37), 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 Titicus, Connecticut, about 69 km north 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.

• Titicus, Connecticut

  Direction

  NE

  Distance (km)

  69.4

  SQM

  19.94

  Bortle

  6

• East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania

  Direction

  WNW

  Distance (km)

  77.8

  SQM

  20.02

  Bortle

  6

• Coolbaugh Township, Pennsylvania

  Direction

  WNW

  Distance (km)

  120

  SQM

  20.86

  Bortle

  4

• Tinicum Township, Pennsylvania

  Direction

  WSW

  Distance (km)

  89.3

  SQM

  19.62

  Bortle

  6

• Manchester Township, New Jersey

  Direction

  S

  Distance (km)

  106.9

  SQM

  19.55

  Bortle

  7

• Pleasant Hill, New York

  Direction

  NW

  Distance (km)

  198.6

  SQM

  21.14

  Bortle

  4