Newark Stargazing & Astronomy Report

Key Sky Quality Metrics

SQM (mag/arcsec²)

16.89

Bortle class

Class 9 (Class 9)

Darkness Quotient

15%

Dataset

April 2026

Inner city sky

Newark: The Practical Verdict

Newark, a mid-sized city in New Jersey, presents challenging stargazing conditions typical of areas with extreme urban light pollution. The sky is classified as Bortle 9, making the Milky Way invisible and narrowing potential observations to the brightest celestial objects.

From this sky, basic targets such as the Moon, planets, and prominent double stars are clearly visible and make good options for casual observing. With careful setup and narrowband filters, some brighter nebulae may be imaged, but deep-sky observations, especially those requiring expansive views or visual clarity, are not practical.

For a significant improvement, travelling around 245 km north-west to the Town of Candor in New York offers access to a Bortle 4 sky—a notable upgrade for those seeking clearer views and digital imaging opportunities of the deep sky.

At a Glance

Overall

Severe urban sky - This is a severely light-polluted urban sky. Only the Moon, planets, bright stars, and a few specialist targets remain practical.

Milky Way

Not visible - The Milky Way is not visible from this sky.

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

Town of Candor, New York sits about 243 km north west and reaches Bortle 4, roughly 56x darker.

Good dark window

Newark'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 Newark?

No. Newark is a Bortle Class 9 sky with SQM 16.89, 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 Newark?

Newark is Bortle Class 9 (SQM 16.89), a severe urban sky for astronomy.

Is Newark good for stargazing?

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

Is Newark good for astrophotography?

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

What can you observe from Newark?

Primary targets from Newark 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 Newark?

The closest meaningfully darker mapped site is White Township, New Jersey, about 71 km west north west of Newark, reaching Bortle 6.

When is the sky darkest in Newark?

The sky over Newark is darkest around January, December.

Is light pollution in Newark getting better or worse?

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

• White Township, New Jersey

  Direction

  WNW

  Distance (km)

  70.9

  SQM

  19.94

  Bortle

  6

• Atsion, New Jersey

  Direction

  SSW

  Distance (km)

  120.1

  SQM

  19.79

  Bortle

  6

• Preston Township, Pennsylvania

  Direction

  NW

  Distance (km)

  160.9

  SQM

  20.74

  Bortle

  5

• Limerick, Pennsylvania

  Direction

  WSW

  Distance (km)

  131.3

  SQM

  19.59

  Bortle

  7

• Clinton, Connecticut

  Direction

  ENE

  Distance (km)

  153.8

  SQM

  20.04

  Bortle

  6

• Town of Candor, New York

  Direction

  NW

  Distance (km)

  242.6

  SQM

  21.27

  Bortle

  4