Perth Stargazing & Astronomy Report

Key Sky Quality Metrics

SQM (mag/arcsec²)

19.26

Bortle class

Class 7 (Class 7)

Darkness Quotient

36%

Dataset

August 2026

Suburban/urban transition

Perth: The Practical Verdict

Perth, a small city in Perth and Kinross, sits at the threshold of urban and suburban skies. Stargazing here is hindered by high light pollution levels. The Milky Way is not visible from within the town due to its Class 7 Bortle skies.

For stargazers in Perth, focusing on the Moon, planets, and bright double stars is most fruitful. Brighter open clusters and narrowband imaging with meticulous processing are also viable pursuits. However, it is advisable to avoid weak reflection nebulae and any visual deep-sky observing, as these are severely impacted by the ambient light.

Fortunately, there are excellent upgrades nearby. Inverigan, about 105 km west north-west, offers a marked improvement with its Bortle 2 conditions. Making the trip is worthwhile for rewarding deep-sky observations, far beyond what Perth’s skies can provide.

At a Glance

Overall

Poor urban/suburban sky - This is a poor sky for astronomy. The Moon, planets, and a few bright objects remain viable, but deep-sky work is difficult.

Milky Way

Not visible - The Milky Way is not realistically visible from this level of light pollution.

Best targets from here

Moon, planets, bright double stars, bright open clusters, narrowband imaging with careful processing

Do not prioritise

visual deep-sky observing, broadband galaxies, reflection nebulae, Milky Way photography

Best nearby upgrade

Inverigan sits about 105 km west north west and reaches Bortle 2, roughly 11x darker.

Moderate dark window

Perth's limiting factor is not only light pollution. Around midsummer, Perth loses true astronomical darkness entirely, so deep-sky observing and imaging are strongly seasonal. Plan serious sessions around the darker months.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you see the Milky Way from Perth?

No. Perth is a Bortle Class 7 sky with SQM 19.26, 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 7 (SQM 19.26), a poor urban/suburban sky for astronomy.

Is Perth good for stargazing?

Not for serious deep-sky observing. Perth is a poor urban/suburban 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. Narrowband imaging of bright emission nebulae remains viable from Perth with appropriate Ha or OIII filters.

What can you observe from Perth?

Primary targets from Perth include Moon, planets, bright double stars, bright open clusters, narrowband imaging with careful processing. 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 Kinloss House, about 22 km east of Perth, reaching Bortle 4.

When is the sky darkest in Perth?

The sky over Perth is darkest around January, December. Major high-latitude limitation: around 100 nights per year have no true astronomical darkness.

Is light pollution in Perth getting better or worse?

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

• Kinloss House

  Direction

  E

  Distance (km)

  21.9

  SQM

  21.00

  Bortle

  4

• Aberdeenshire

  Direction

  NNE

  Distance (km)

  77.4

  SQM

  21.49

  Bortle

  3

• Gleann nan Caorann

  Direction

  W

  Distance (km)

  83.3

  SQM

  21.66

  Bortle

  3

• Auchnagymlinn

  Direction

  S

  Distance (km)

  74.1

  SQM

  21.15

  Bortle

  4

• Inverigan

  Direction

  WNW

  Distance (km)

  104.7

  SQM

  21.82

  Bortle

  2

• Corrieyairack Pass

  Direction

  NW

  Distance (km)

  109

  SQM

  21.81

  Bortle

  2