Saguenay Stargazing & Astronomy Report

Key Sky Quality Metrics

SQM (mag/arcsec²)

18.45

Bortle class

Class 8 (Class 8)

Darkness Quotient

27%

Dataset

April 2026

City sky

Saguenay: The Practical Verdict

Saguenay is a small city in Quebec, Canada, with notable light pollution levels typical of urban environments. Its skies fall in the 'High Light Pollution' tier, making it unsuitable for detailed deep-sky observations or wide-field views of the Milky Way.

The urban sky suppresses visibility almost entirely for faint nebulae, reflection galaxies, and meteor showers. Observers are best focussing on the Moon, planets, double stars, and solar system events, as these remain accessible despite the sky's brightness. Imaging is viable mainly for narrowband targets but will require careful calibration to mitigate gradients and background noise.

For residents or visitors seeking deeper skies, Rivière-Éternité, about 55 km east-south-east, offers a substantial improvement with Bortle 3 conditions conducive to broader astronomy pursuits.

At a Glance

Overall

Poor city sky - This is a poor city sky. The Milky Way is not visible and most deep-sky observing is unrealistic from the location itself.

Milky Way

Not visible - The Milky Way is erased by the bright urban sky background.

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

Rivière-Éternité, Quebec sits about 55 km east south east and reaches Bortle 3, roughly 16x darker.

Moderate dark window

Saguenay'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 Saguenay?

No. Saguenay is a Bortle Class 8 sky with SQM 18.45, 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 Saguenay?

Saguenay is Bortle Class 8 (SQM 18.45), a poor city sky for astronomy.

Is Saguenay good for stargazing?

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

Is Saguenay good for astrophotography?

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

What can you observe from Saguenay?

Primary targets from Saguenay 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 Saguenay?

The closest meaningfully darker mapped site is Rivière-Éternité, Quebec, about 55 km east south east of Saguenay, reaching Bortle 3.

When is the sky darkest in Saguenay?

The sky over Saguenay is darkest around January, December.

Is light pollution in Saguenay getting better or worse?

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

• Rivière-Éternité, Quebec

  Direction

  ESE

  Distance (km)

  54.8

  SQM

  21.44

  Bortle

  3

• L'Anse-Saint-Jean, Quebec

  Direction

  SE

  Distance (km)

  66

  SQM

  20.99

  Bortle

  4

• Lac-au-Brochet, Quebec

  Direction

  E

  Distance (km)

  80.8

  SQM

  20.72

  Bortle

  5

• Lac-Jacques-Cartier, Quebec

  Direction

  S

  Distance (km)

  95.1

  SQM

  20.84

  Bortle

  4