Saguenay Stargazing & Astronomy Report

Key Sky Quality Metrics

SQM (mag/arcsec²)

18.63

Bortle class

Class 8 (Class 8)

Darkness Quotient

29%

Dataset

May 2026

City sky

Saguenay: The Practical Verdict

Saguenay, nestled in Quebec, bears the character of a small city with a suburban setting that is plagued by high light pollution. This urban brightness heavily degrades astronomical quality, making it a poor choice for stargazing within the city limits. The primary challenge is the pervasive light pollution which washes out many celestial objects.

The Milky Way is entirely not visible from Saguenay, and deep-sky targets are severely compromised. However, observers can still focus on brighter objects such as the Moon, planets, and double stars. Narrowband imaging may be pursued with caution, but wideband targets and broader celestial phenomena are to be avoided.

For those seeking a more fulfilling stargazing experience, a significant improvement can be found 59 km south-east, where Class 3 Bortle skies offer a much clearer window into the universe.

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

59 km SE sits about 59 km south east and reaches Bortle 3, roughly 12x 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 18.63, 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 18.63), 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 59 km SE, about 59 km 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.

• 59 km SE

  Direction

  SE

  Distance (km)

  58.5

  SQM

  21.36

  Bortle

  3

• 64 km ESE

  Direction

  ESE

  Distance (km)

  64.1

  SQM

  21.53

  Bortle

  3

• Lac-au-Brochet, Quebec

  Direction

  E

  Distance (km)

  80.7

  SQM

  20.73

  Bortle

  5

• Lac-Pikauba, Quebec

  Direction

  S

  Distance (km)

  88

  SQM

  20.86

  Bortle

  4

• Linton, Quebec

  Direction

  SSW

  Distance (km)

  158.9

  SQM

  21.23

  Bortle

  4