Bandung Institute of Technology Stargazing & Astronomy Report

Light pollution and stargazing locations near Bandung Institute of Technology

City
Bandung Institute of Technology
Country
Indonesia
Latitude
-6.8904
Longitude
107.6103

Key Sky Quality Metrics

SQM (mag/arcsec²)
18.91
Bortle class
Class 7 (Class 7)
Darkness Quotient
32%
Dataset
April 2026

Suburban/urban transition

Bandung Institute of Technology: The Practical Verdict

Bandung Institute of Technology, located within the city of Bandung in West Java, offers a setting of high light pollution. The broader urban influence of Bandung strongly affects local stargazing, leading to a sky that is generally poor for astronomical observation, classified under Bortle scale 7. The prominent limiting factor is the significant urban light dome interfering with visibility.

From this site, the Moon and major planets remain accessible targets, particularly for initial observations or casual viewers. Brighter open clusters and double stars are viable options for keen stargazers, as are wide-field photographs and narrowband imaging with appropriate equipment and processing. The dimmest nebulae and deep-sky galaxies, however, are off the table entirely due to the light pollution masking their presence.

For those willing to travel, the nearby location of Neglasari, approximately 65 km to the south-south-east, offers considerably improved skies with a Bortle class of 4. This makes it worthwhile for serious deep-sky observers aiming for significantly darker conditions to see fainter objects.

At a Glance

Overall
Poor urban/suburban sky - This is a poor sky for astronomy. The Moon, planets, and a few bright objects remain viable, but deep-sky work is difficult.
Milky Way
Not visible - The Milky Way is not realistically visible from this level of light pollution.
Best targets from here
Moon, planets, bright double stars, bright open clusters, narrowband imaging with careful processing
Do not prioritise
visual deep-sky observing, broadband galaxies, reflection nebulae, Milky Way photography
Best nearby upgrade
Neglasari, West Java sits about 66 km south south east and reaches Bortle 4, roughly 6.4x darker.
Good dark window
Bandung Institute of Technology retains astronomical darkness throughout the year, so seasonality is less extreme than at higher latitudes. The main limitation is light pollution, not the length of the dark window.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you see the Milky Way from Bandung Institute of Technology?

No. Bandung Institute of Technology is a Bortle Class 7 sky with SQM 18.91, 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 Bandung Institute of Technology?

Bandung Institute of Technology is Bortle Class 7 (SQM 18.91), a poor urban/suburban sky for astronomy.

Is Bandung Institute of Technology good for stargazing?

Not for serious deep-sky observing. Bandung Institute of Technology is a poor urban/suburban sky where the Moon, planets, and a handful of bright targets are the realistic options from the city itself.

Is Bandung Institute of Technology good for astrophotography?

Broadband deep-sky imaging is heavily compromised from Bandung Institute of Technology and a Bortle 4 or darker site is strongly recommended. Narrowband imaging of bright emission nebulae remains viable from Bandung Institute of Technology with appropriate Ha or OIII filters.

What can you observe from Bandung Institute of Technology?

Primary targets from Bandung Institute of Technology include Moon, planets, bright double stars, bright open clusters, narrowband imaging with careful processing. Targets such as visual deep-sky observing, broadband galaxies, reflection nebulae are not realistic from this sky.

Where are darker skies near Bandung Institute of Technology?

The closest meaningfully darker mapped site is Marengmang, West Java, about 43 km east of Bandung Institute of Technology, reaching Bortle 6.

When is the sky darkest in Bandung Institute of Technology?

The sky over Bandung Institute of Technology is darkest around May, June.

Is light pollution in Bandung Institute of Technology getting better or worse?

Long-term light pollution over Bandung Institute of Technology has been broadly stable across the available measurements.

north - good

Dark sky in the north direction with no obvious skyglow. Suitable for faint-object work at low elevation.

north-north-east - good

Dark horizon to the north-north-east. Faint stars and extended objects in this direction behave much as they do overhead.

north-east - good

The north-east horizon is dark. Faint stars are visible close to the ground.

east-north-east - good

Dark horizon to the east-north-east. Faint stars and extended objects in this direction behave much as they do overhead.

east - good

No noticeable light pollution to the east. The sky in this direction is dark to the horizon.

east-south-east - fair

The east-south-east sky is broadly dark with a small amount of glow at the horizon. Most objects in this direction are accessible.

south-east - fair

A faint diffuse glow on the south-east horizon. Stars are visible to low elevation, with minor losses near the ground.

south-south-east - fair

A faint diffuse glow on the south-south-east horizon. Stars are visible to low elevation, with minor losses near the ground.

south - fair

A faint diffuse glow on the south horizon. Stars are visible to low elevation, with minor losses near the ground.

south-south-west - fair

Light glow detectable on the south-south-west horizon. The effect fades quickly with elevation and does not affect overhead work.

south-west - fair

Light glow detectable on the south-west horizon. The effect fades quickly with elevation and does not affect overhead work.

west-south-west - fair

A faint diffuse glow on the west-south-west horizon. Stars are visible to low elevation, with minor losses near the ground.

west - fair

Light glow detectable on the west horizon. The effect fades quickly with elevation and does not affect overhead work.

west-north-west - fair

Faint glow on the west-north-west horizon. Most stars are visible to low elevation; only the faintest near the ground are affected.

north-west - good

The north-west sky is dark to the horizon. Faint targets are accessible at all elevations here.

north-north-west - good

The north-north-west horizon is dark. Faint stars are visible close to the ground.

zenith - marginal

The zenith sky is noticeably bright. Only the brighter members of each constellation are visible.

  • Cisaranten, West Java
    Direction
    SW
    Distance (km)
    57.4
    SQM
    20.68
    Bortle
    5
  • Neglasari, West Java
    Direction
    SSE
    Distance (km)
    66.4
    SQM
    20.92
    Bortle
    4
  • Marengmang, West Java
    Direction
    E
    Distance (km)
    43.1
    SQM
    20.20
    Bortle
    6
  • Mekarsewu, West Java
    Direction
    S
    Distance (km)
    51.7
    SQM
    20.36
    Bortle
    5
  • Subang, West Java
    Direction
    NE
    Distance (km)
    48
    SQM
    20.26
    Bortle
    6
  • Majalengka, West Java
    Direction
    ENE
    Distance (km)
    59.8
    SQM
    20.34
    Bortle
    5