Kent Stargazing & Astronomy Report

Key Sky Quality Metrics

SQM (mag/arcsec²)

18.10

Bortle class

Class 8 (Class 8)

Darkness Quotient

24%

Dataset

April 2026

City sky

Kent: The Practical Verdict

Kent is a small city located in suburban Washington, approximately 25 km south-east of Seattle. Observing conditions here are characterised by High Light Pollution, with overall sky quality classified as poor for stargazing. The urban glow significantly impacts the visibility of celestial objects, limiting viewing opportunities to the brightest targets.

From Kent's skies, expect to observe the Moon, planets, and bright stars with relative ease. Basic double stars and some solar system phenomena can provide engaging views, but deep-sky objects fare poorly under these conditions. The Milky Way is entirely hidden by the light-drenched atmosphere, and visual deep-sky observing is unproductive. Imaging challenges include narrowband options only with caution to manage gradients.

For those seeking better conditions, Grays Harbor County to the west offers a meaningful upgrade to Bortle 4 skies, around 105 km away. This location allows access to much darker skies for serious astronomical 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

Grays Harbor County, Washington sits about 103 km west and reaches Bortle 4, roughly 17x darker.

Moderate dark window

Kent'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 Kent?

No. Kent is a Bortle Class 8 sky with SQM 18.10, 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 Kent?

Kent is Bortle Class 8 (SQM 18.10), a poor city sky for astronomy.

Is Kent good for stargazing?

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

Is Kent good for astrophotography?

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

What can you observe from Kent?

Primary targets from Kent 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 Kent?

The closest meaningfully darker mapped site is Glencove, Washington, about 37 km west of Kent, reaching Bortle 6.

When is the sky darkest in Kent?

The sky over Kent is darkest around January, December.

Is light pollution in Kent getting better or worse?

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

• Glencove, Washington

  Direction

  W

  Distance (km)

  37.3

  SQM

  20.29

  Bortle

  6

• San Juan Trail, Washington

  Direction

  NNW

  Distance (km)

  83

  SQM

  20.74

  Bortle

  5

• Grays Harbor County, Washington

  Direction

  W

  Distance (km)

  103.3

  SQM

  21.18

  Bortle

  4

• Jefferson County, Washington

  Direction

  WNW

  Distance (km)

  112.5

  SQM

  20.98

  Bortle

  4

• Sun East Road, Washington

  Direction

  E

  Distance (km)

  128.7

  SQM

  21.28

  Bortle

  4

• Grays Harbor County, Washington

  Direction

  SW

  Distance (km)

  108.6

  SQM

  20.57

  Bortle

  5