Bellevue Stargazing & Astronomy Report

Key Sky Quality Metrics

SQM (mag/arcsec²)

18.14

Bortle class

Class 8 (Class 8)

Darkness Quotient

24%

Dataset

April 2026

City sky

Bellevue: The Practical Verdict

Bellevue, Washington, is a suburban area with significant light pollution due to proximity to Seattle, about 10 km west. Overall, stargazing conditions here are categorised as poor, with a bright urban sky severely limiting visual astronomy opportunities. The southern horizon is particularly affected by urban glow.

From Bellevue, observers are mainly limited to bright targets such as the Moon, planets, and notable double stars. Narrowband imaging is feasible with caution, but broadband imaging and faint deep-sky observation are unrewarding due to the bright background sky. The Milky Way is entirely absent, and meteor showers are difficult to appreciate under these conditions.

For enthusiasts seeking darker skies, Grays Harbor County, around 110 km west-south-west, offers Class 4 conditions that greatly enhance visibility of deep-sky objects and the Milky Way. This upgrade is worthwhile for committed observers.

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

Grays Harbor County, Washington sits about 110 km west south west and reaches Bortle 4, roughly 15x darker.

Moderate dark window

Bellevue'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 Bellevue?

No. Bellevue is a Bortle Class 8 sky with SQM 18.14, 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 Bellevue?

Bellevue is Bortle Class 8 (SQM 18.14), a poor city sky for astronomy.

Is Bellevue good for stargazing?

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

Is Bellevue good for astrophotography?

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

What can you observe from Bellevue?

Primary targets from Bellevue 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 Bellevue?

The closest meaningfully darker mapped site is 3786, Washington, about 51 km south west of Bellevue, reaching Bortle 6.

When is the sky darkest in Bellevue?

The sky over Bellevue is darkest around January, December.

Is light pollution in Bellevue getting better or worse?

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

• Woodmans, Washington

  Direction

  NW

  Distance (km)

  61.8

  SQM

  20.77

  Bortle

  5

• 3786, Washington

  Direction

  SW

  Distance (km)

  51

  SQM

  20.12

  Bortle

  6

• Beach Drive, Washington

  Direction

  WSW

  Distance (km)

  72.7

  SQM

  20.42

  Bortle

  5

• Grays Harbor County, Washington

  Direction

  WSW

  Distance (km)

  110.2

  SQM

  21.10

  Bortle

  4

• Jefferson County, Washington

  Direction

  WNW

  Distance (km)

  111.7

  SQM

  20.81

  Bortle

  4