Québec City Stargazing & Astronomy Report

Key Sky Quality Metrics

SQM (mag/arcsec²)

17.45

Bortle class

Class 9 (Class 9)

Darkness Quotient

19%

Dataset

April 2026

Inner city sky

Québec City: The Practical Verdict

Québec City, in the province of Quebec, is a mid-sized urban area with significant light pollution affecting much of its sky. Astronomical views here are heavily subdued, with the overall conditions classified as having 'Severe urban sky'. The main constraint is the pervasive light pollution, typical of an urban centre.

The Milky Way is entirely absent from view due to the bright sky, and deep-sky observing is effectively impractical. However, targets such as the Moon, planets, bright stars, and certain double stars remain visible and make for commendable viewing opportunities. Solar system events are worthwhile to observe here, though wider astronomical imaging is challenging without narrowband filtering.

For those looking to escape this urban light dome, Baie-Saint-Paul, Quebec, lies around 85 km to the north-east. This area offers dramatically improved darkness and is highly recommended for serious stargazing and deep-sky exploring.

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

Baie-Saint-Paul, Quebec sits about 84 km north east and reaches Bortle 3, roughly 36x darker.

Moderate dark window

Québec City'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 Québec City?

No. Québec City 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 Québec City?

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

Is Québec City good for stargazing?

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

Is Québec City good for astrophotography?

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

What can you observe from Québec City?

Primary targets from Québec City 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 Québec City?

The closest meaningfully darker mapped site is Baie-Saint-Paul, Quebec, about 84 km north east of Québec City, reaching Bortle 3.

When is the sky darkest in Québec City?

The sky over Québec City is darkest around January, December.

Is light pollution in Québec City getting better or worse?

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

• Baie-Saint-Paul, Quebec

  Direction

  NE

  Distance (km)

  83.9

  SQM

  21.35

  Bortle

  3

• Lemieux, Quebec

  Direction

  SW

  Distance (km)

  91.9

  SQM

  20.54

  Bortle

  5

• Carrying Place Town Township, Maine

  Direction

  SSE

  Distance (km)

  199.1

  SQM

  21.25

  Bortle

  4

• TC R2 WELS, Maine

  Direction

  ESE

  Distance (km)

  259.6

  SQM

  21.49

  Bortle

  3

• Saint Quentin Parish, New Brunswick

  Direction

  ENE

  Distance (km)

  279

  SQM

  21.40

  Bortle

  3