Sherbrooke Stargazing & Astronomy Report

Key Sky Quality Metrics

SQM (mag/arcsec²)

18.48

Bortle class

Class 8 (Class 8)

Darkness Quotient

27%

Dataset

April 2026

City sky

Sherbrooke: The Practical Verdict

Sherbrooke, a small city in Quebec, experiences high levels of light pollution, yielding a city sky typical of Bortle Class 8. Observing here is constrained by the bright urban environment, with the Milky Way completely obscured and the night sky only hosting the brightest celestial sights.

The best accessible targets under these conditions include the Moon, planets, bright stars, and double stars. Narrowband imaging of the brightest nebulae is feasible with careful planning, while visual deep-sky observing and broadband imaging are impractical due to the overwhelming sky glow. For broader access to astronomical features, travelling to darker locations could provide significantly improved skies.

To observe under measurably darker conditions, heading east towards Sangerville, Maine, about 210 km away, presents a marked improvement with a Bortle Class 3 sky. This route is worthwhile for those seeking a proper dark-sky experience, including visibility of fainter galaxies and nebulae.

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

Sangerville, Maine sits about 209 km east and reaches Bortle 3, roughly 18x darker.

Moderate dark window

Sherbrooke'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 Sherbrooke?

No. Sherbrooke is a Bortle Class 8 sky with SQM 18.48, 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 Sherbrooke?

Sherbrooke is Bortle Class 8 (SQM 18.48), a poor city sky for astronomy.

Is Sherbrooke good for stargazing?

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

Is Sherbrooke good for astrophotography?

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

What can you observe from Sherbrooke?

Primary targets from Sherbrooke 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 Sherbrooke?

The closest meaningfully darker mapped site is Saint-Nazaire-d'Acton, Quebec, about 67 km west north west of Sherbrooke, reaching Bortle 5.

When is the sky darkest in Sherbrooke?

The sky over Sherbrooke is darkest around January, December.

Is light pollution in Sherbrooke getting better or worse?

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

• Sainte-Hélène-de-Chester, Quebec

  Direction

  ESE

  Distance (km)

  71.8

  SQM

  20.72

  Bortle

  5

• Saint-Nazaire-d'Acton, Quebec

  Direction

  WNW

  Distance (km)

  66.6

  SQM

  20.48

  Bortle

  5

• Bethlehem, New Hampshire

  Direction

  S

  Distance (km)

  128.8

  SQM

  21.30

  Bortle

  4

• Andover, Maine

  Direction

  SE

  Distance (km)

  126.2

  SQM

  21.07

  Bortle

  4

• Sangerville, Maine

  Direction

  E

  Distance (km)

  209.3

  SQM

  21.62

  Bortle

  3