Moncton Stargazing & Astronomy Report

Key Sky Quality Metrics

SQM (mag/arcsec²)

18.45

Bortle class

Class 8 (Class 8)

Darkness Quotient

27%

Dataset

April 2026

City sky

Moncton: The Practical Verdict

Moncton, a small city in New Brunswick, is subject to significant light pollution, resulting in a generally poor sky for stargazing. Astronomical visibility is heavily impacted by urban brightness, making this location far from ideal for deep sky astronomy.

Observing here is feasible only for the Moon, planets, bright stars, and occasional solar system events. The Milky Way is entirely erased by the light-dominated background, and faint objects like galaxies, nebulae, or even meteor showers are unsuitable targets in such conditions.

For those seeking richer views of the cosmos, New Horton to the south offers substantially darker skies with a Bortle 3 rating. This nearby location provides a meaningful improvement for those willing to take the trip.

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

New Horton, New Brunswick sits about 50 km south and reaches Bortle 3, roughly 16x darker.

Moderate dark window

Moncton'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 Moncton?

No. Moncton is a Bortle Class 8 sky with SQM 18.45, 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 Moncton?

Moncton is Bortle Class 8 (SQM 18.45), a poor city sky for astronomy.

Is Moncton good for stargazing?

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

Is Moncton good for astrophotography?

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

What can you observe from Moncton?

Primary targets from Moncton 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 Moncton?

The closest meaningfully darker mapped site is Bouctouche, New Brunswick, about 41 km east of Moncton, reaching Bortle 5.

When is the sky darkest in Moncton?

The sky over Moncton is darkest around January, December.

Is light pollution in Moncton getting better or worse?

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

• New Horton, New Brunswick

  Direction

  S

  Distance (km)

  49.5

  SQM

  21.46

  Bortle

  3

• Halfway River, Nova Scotia

  Direction

  SSE

  Distance (km)

  71.1

  SQM

  21.49

  Bortle

  3

• Bouctouche, New Brunswick

  Direction

  E

  Distance (km)

  41.1

  SQM

  20.31

  Bortle

  5

• Cascumpec, Prince Edward Island

  Direction

  NE

  Distance (km)

  85

  SQM

  21.59

  Bortle

  3

• Waterford Parish, New Brunswick

  Direction

  SW

  Distance (km)

  67.6

  SQM

  20.91

  Bortle

  4

• Alnwick Parish, New Brunswick

  Direction

  NW

  Distance (km)

  126.1

  SQM

  21.42

  Bortle

  3