Saguenay Stargazing & Astronomy Report

Key Sky Quality Metrics

SQM (mag/arcsec²)

18.75

Bortle class

Class 8 (Class 8)

Darkness Quotient

30%

Dataset

July 2026

City sky

Saguenay: The Practical Verdict

Saguenay, a small city in Quebec, presents challenging conditions for astronomical observation due to high light pollution levels. The sky suffers from a city-like glow, pushing a Bortle Class 8, making deep-sky observation largely impractical. The primary drawback here is the significant light dome, especially prominent towards the west.

Celestial enthusiasts in Saguenay can still enjoy observing the brighter objects such as the Moon, planets, and double stars, as these pierce through the urban glare. However, the Milky Way remains invisible, and visual deep-sky observing should be avoided. Narrowband imaging may be pursued with caution, but even this is not ideal under such conditions.

For serious stargazers, driving south-east to Lalemant offers a substantial improvement in darkness. At approximately 55 km away, this location falls under Bortle 3, providing a much better sky for those interested in deeper observatory endeavours.

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

Lalemant, Quebec sits about 57 km south east and reaches Bortle 3, roughly 11x 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 18.75, 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 18.75), 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 Lalemant, Quebec, about 57 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?

There is not yet enough long-term data to give a confident trend for Saguenay.

• Lalemant, Quebec

  Direction

  SE

  Distance (km)

  57.4

  SQM

  21.39

  Bortle

  3

• L'Anse-Saint-Jean, Quebec

  Direction

  ESE

  Distance (km)

  62.9

  SQM

  21.14

  Bortle

  4

• Lac-au-Brochet, Quebec

  Direction

  E

  Distance (km)

  79.6

  SQM

  20.86

  Bortle

  4

• Lac-Croche, Quebec

  Direction

  SSW

  Distance (km)

  119.7

  SQM

  21.00

  Bortle

  4