Regina Stargazing & Astronomy Report

Key Sky Quality Metrics

SQM (mag/arcsec²)

17.81

Bortle class

Class 9 (Class 9)

Darkness Quotient

21%

Dataset

April 2026

Inner city sky

Regina: The Practical Verdict

Regina, the capital of Saskatchewan, is a mid-size city with skies heavily impacted by urban illumination. Astronomical quality here is classified as high light pollution, with severe limitations for stargazing from within the city itself. The Milky Way is entirely absent even under the cleanest skies nearby.

Observing conditions primarily favour bright celestial objects, such as the Moon, planets, and double stars. Narrowband imaging is possible for the most luminous nebulae, though gradients and light domes dominate the background significantly. Deep-sky visual observing and wider-surface-area targets like galaxies are impractical here.

For more advanced stargazing or imaging, consider travelling south-east towards Lajord No. 128, Saskatchewan, approximately 50 km away. This site offers much darker skies and is a solid option for enthusiasts seeking to escape Regina's light pollution for serious deep-sky observation.

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

Lajord No. 128, Saskatchewan sits about 48 km south east and reaches Bortle 3, roughly 25x darker.

Moderate dark window

Regina'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 Regina?

No. Regina is a Bortle Class 9 sky with SQM 17.81, 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 Regina?

Regina is Bortle Class 9 (SQM 17.81), a severe urban sky for astronomy.

Is Regina good for stargazing?

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

Is Regina good for astrophotography?

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

What can you observe from Regina?

Primary targets from Regina 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 Regina?

The closest meaningfully darker mapped site is Lajord No. 128, Saskatchewan, about 48 km south east of Regina, reaching Bortle 3.

When is the sky darkest in Regina?

The sky over Regina is darkest around January, December. Significant summer limitation: around 48 nights per year have no true astronomical darkness.

Is light pollution in Regina getting better or worse?

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

• Lajord No. 128, Saskatchewan

  Direction

  SE

  Distance (km)

  47.5

  SQM

  21.32

  Bortle

  3

• Souris Valley No. 7, Saskatchewan

  Direction

  SSE

  Distance (km)

  167

  SQM

  21.18

  Bortle

  4

• Harris No. 316, Saskatchewan

  Direction

  NW

  Distance (km)

  265.6

  SQM

  21.64

  Bortle

  3