Hereford Stargazing & Astronomy Report

Key Sky Quality Metrics

SQM (mag/arcsec²)

19.26

Bortle class

Class 7 (Class 7)

Darkness Quotient

36%

Dataset

April 2026

Suburban/urban transition

Hereford: The Practical Verdict

Hereford, located in Herefordshire, is a small city with high levels of light pollution affecting its suburban surroundings. The overall sky quality is poor, classified as Bortle 7, where the Milky Way is not visible and only the brightest sky objects can be observed.

Targets such as the Moon, planets, and bright double stars are effectively viewable despite the compromised conditions. Narrowband imaging might yield acceptable results with meticulous processing, but general deep-sky observing and imaging remain largely inaccessible from this location.

For substantially darker skies, a trip around 55 km west north-west to Gaufron is recommended. This site offers Bortle 3 skies, making it a solid option for pursuing visual deep-sky observations and photography.

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

Gaufron sits about 54 km west north west and reaches Bortle 3, roughly 8.8x darker.

Moderate dark window

Hereford's limiting factor is not only light pollution. Around midsummer, Hereford loses true astronomical darkness entirely, so deep-sky observing and imaging are strongly seasonal. Plan serious sessions around the darker months.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you see the Milky Way from Hereford?

No. Hereford is a Bortle Class 7 sky with SQM 19.26, 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 Hereford?

Hereford is Bortle Class 7 (SQM 19.26), a poor urban/suburban sky for astronomy.

Is Hereford good for stargazing?

Not for serious deep-sky observing. Hereford 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 Hereford good for astrophotography?

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

What can you observe from Hereford?

Primary targets from Hereford 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 Hereford?

The closest meaningfully darker mapped site is Overmonnow, about 26 km south of Hereford, reaching Bortle 5.

When is the sky darkest in Hereford?

The sky over Hereford is darkest around January, December. Significant summer limitation: around 65 nights per year have no true astronomical darkness.

Is light pollution in Hereford getting better or worse?

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

• Overmonnow

  Direction

  S

  Distance (km)

  25.8

  SQM

  20.71

  Bortle

  5

• Gaufron

  Direction

  WNW

  Distance (km)

  53.9

  SQM

  21.62

  Bortle

  3

• Halfway

  Direction

  W

  Distance (km)

  71.7

  SQM

  21.51

  Bortle

  3

• Melin-y-ddol

  Direction

  NNW

  Distance (km)

  79.7

  SQM

  21.37

  Bortle

  3

• Church Preen

  Direction

  ENE

  Distance (km)

  57.7

  SQM

  20.69

  Bortle

  5

• Cotmarsh

  Direction

  SE

  Distance (km)

  84.4

  SQM

  20.71

  Bortle

  5