Perth Stargazing & Astronomy Report
Light pollution and stargazing locations near Perth
- City
- Perth
- Country
- Australia
- Latitude
- -31.9505
- Longitude
- 115.8605
Key Sky Quality Metrics
- SQM (mag/arcsec²)
- 17.67
- Bortle class
- Class 9 (Class 9)
- Darkness Quotient
- 20%
- Dataset
- August 2026
Inner city sky
Perth: The Practical Verdict
As a major city in Western Australia, Perth's substantial population and dense urban environment contribute to a severe urban sky. Light pollution in Perth is classed as extreme, making even some of the brighter celestial objects difficult to observe with clarity. The city's luminous glow limits astronomical quality, rendering the Milky Way invisible from this location.
The best views of the Moon, planets, and bright stars can be found in Perth. Double stars and solar system events are also good targets here, though narrowband imaging should be approached with care due to background light interference. True deep-sky observing is highly impractical under this urban glow.
For those seeking quality sky conditions, travelling to Boscabel Chittinup Road in Western Australia, approximately 215 km south south-east, will provide a significantly darker sky for serious deep-sky work. This location offers a different Bortle environment, beneficial for those willing to make the trip.
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
- Boscabel Chittinup Road, Western Australia sits about 215 km south south east and reaches Bortle 3, roughly 31x darker.
- Good dark window
- Perth's longest dark windows fall in June and July, with the shortest nights around December and January. For deep-sky imaging, winter gives the best combination of long nights and true astronomical darkness.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you see the Milky Way from Perth?
No. Perth is a Bortle Class 9 sky with SQM 17.67, 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 Perth?
Perth is Bortle Class 9 (SQM 17.67), a severe urban sky for astronomy.
Is Perth good for stargazing?
Not for serious deep-sky observing. Perth is a severe urban sky where the Moon, planets, and a handful of bright targets are the realistic options from the city itself.
Is Perth good for astrophotography?
Broadband deep-sky imaging is heavily compromised from Perth and a Bortle 4 or darker site is strongly recommended. Even narrowband imaging is difficult from Perth without careful processing.
What can you observe from Perth?
Primary targets from Perth 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 Perth?
The closest meaningfully darker mapped site is City Beach, Western Australia, about 8 km west of Perth, reaching Bortle 7.
When is the sky darkest in Perth?
The sky over Perth is darkest around June, July.
Is light pollution in Perth getting better or worse?
Long-term light pollution over Perth has been broadly stable across the available measurements.
north - marginal
The north lower sky is measurably brighter than the darker quarters. Limit faint work to above about 20 degrees here.
north-north-east - fair
Faint glow on the north-north-east horizon. Most stars are visible to low elevation; only the faintest near the ground are affected.
north-east - fair
A faint diffuse glow on the north-east horizon. Stars are visible to low elevation, with minor losses near the ground.
east-north-east - marginal
A diffuse glow sits on the east-north-east horizon. Faint objects below 20 degrees in this direction are compromised.
east - marginal
The east sky shows a clear glow near the ground. Above about 20 degrees the sky returns to workable.
east-south-east - marginal
Noticeable glow on the east-south-east horizon. Stars below about 20 degrees in this direction are dimmed.
south-east - marginal
Soft skyglow visible on the south-east horizon. Mid-brightness stars survive at low elevation; the faintest do not.
south-south-east - marginal
A diffuse glow sits on the south-south-east horizon. Faint objects below 20 degrees in this direction are compromised.
south - marginal
Noticeable glow on the south horizon. Stars below about 20 degrees in this direction are dimmed.
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 - fair
A faint diffuse glow on the west-south-west horizon. Stars are visible to low elevation, with minor losses near the ground.
west - good
Dark horizon to the west. Faint stars and extended objects in this direction behave much as they do overhead.
west-north-west - good
The west-north-west horizon is dark. Faint stars are visible close to the ground.
north-west - fair
Light glow detectable on the north-west horizon. The effect fades quickly with elevation and does not affect overhead work.
north-north-west - marginal
Soft skyglow visible on the north-north-west horizon. Mid-brightness stars survive at low elevation; the faintest do not.
zenith - poor
The zenith sky background is high. Most faint stars are absent and the Milky Way cannot be seen.
-
Rottnest Island, Western Australia
- Direction
- W
- Distance (km)
- 35
- SQM
- 20.89
- Bortle
- 4
-
City Beach, Western Australia
- Direction
- W
- Distance (km)
- 7.5
- SQM
- 18.93
- Bortle
- 7
-
Nilgen Road, Western Australia
- Direction
- NNW
- Distance (km)
- 114.3
- SQM
- 19.72
- Bortle
- 6
-
Boscabel Chittinup Road, Western Australia
- Direction
- SSE
- Distance (km)
- 215.4
- SQM
- 21.40
- Bortle
- 3
-
Ruabon, Western Australia
- Direction
- SSW
- Distance (km)
- 191.6
- SQM
- 20.58
- Bortle
- 5
-
Jilakin, Western Australia
- Direction
- ESE
- Distance (km)
- 250.9
- SQM
- 21.28
- Bortle
- 4