Regina Stargazing & Astronomy Report

Key Sky Quality Metrics

SQM (mag/arcsec²)

17.99

Bortle class

Class 9 (Class 9)

Darkness Quotient

23%

Dataset

May 2026

Inner city sky

Regina: The Practical Verdict

Regina, the capital of Saskatchewan, is a mid-size city with high levels of light pollution. The sky here is distinctly urban, with severe limitations for astronomy; the Milky Way is completely obscured. The primary limitation is the level of light pollution, making it challenging for deep-sky observing.

In these conditions, stargazing is restricted to brighter celestial objects; the Moon, planets, and bright stars are visible, making them the most practical targets. While narrowband imaging can achieve some success, visual deep-sky observations should largely be avoided. Less luminous nebulae and most traditional constellation views remain hidden beneath the light dome, with the eastern horizon proving the brightest.

For those seeking darker skies, heading north-north-west to McKillop No. 220, about 60 km away, offers a significant improvement. There, Bortle 3 conditions provide a much clearer view of deep-sky objects, a rewarding experience for any enthusiast.

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

McKillop No. 220, Saskatchewan sits about 58 km north north west and reaches Bortle 3, roughly 23x darker.

Moderate dark window

Regina'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 Regina?

No. Regina is a Bortle Class 9 sky with SQM 17.99, 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 Regina?

Regina is Bortle Class 9 (SQM 17.99), a severe urban sky for astronomy.

Is Regina good for stargazing?

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

Is Regina good for astrophotography?

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

What can you observe from Regina?

Primary targets from Regina 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 Regina?

The closest meaningfully darker mapped site is Caledonia No. 99, Saskatchewan, about 48 km south of Regina, reaching Bortle 6.

When is the sky darkest in Regina?

The sky over Regina is darkest around January, December. Significant summer limitation: around 48 nights per year have no true astronomical darkness.

Is light pollution in Regina getting better or worse?

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

• McKillop No. 220, Saskatchewan

  Direction

  NNW

  Distance (km)

  57.5

  SQM

  21.39

  Bortle

  3

• Caledonia No. 99, Saskatchewan

  Direction

  S

  Distance (km)

  48.4

  SQM

  20.09

  Bortle

  6

• Lake Alma No. 8, Saskatchewan

  Direction

  SSE

  Distance (km)

  150.1

  SQM

  21.31

  Bortle

  3