UK Light Pollution Map
See how bright the night sky is at your location on an interactive UK light pollution map, colour-coded from the darkest skies to the brightest inner-city skies using 2024 satellite data. The colours are light pollution zones, not Bortle classes - see why below. Enter a postcode or click anywhere on the map to check light pollution in your area, with the nearest dark sky sites ranked by distance and tonight's moon phase.
Enter a UK postcode or click the map to check light pollution levels in your area. The dark sky map overlay is David Lorenz's light pollution atlas, modelled from VIIRS satellite night lights and colour-coded by sky brightness. Over 150 stargazing sites, including about 140 Dark Sky Discovery Sites, are plotted on the map so you can find stargazing locations near you. The moon phase widget shows whether moonlight will wash out tonight's sky (it doesn't know about cloud). Place-name searches go to OpenStreetMap's Nominatim service, and postcodes we can't find in our own data are looked up through postcodes.io. Site distances are worked out in your browser, and we don't store what you search.
How to Use the UK Light Pollution Map
Our light pollution map shows you exactly how bright the night sky is across the entire UK. The map uses David Lorenz's 2024 atlas, modelled from VIIRS satellite night lights, colour-coded by sky brightness from the darkest skies to the brightest inner-city skies. Enter a UK postcode, use your current location, or click anywhere on the map to check light pollution in that area and find the nearest dark sky sites ranked by distance.
Unlike static light pollution maps, this tool also shows over 150 stargazing sites, including about 140 Dark Sky Discovery Sites, plotted on the map so you can find stargazing locations near you. The moon phase widget tells you how much moonlight to expect tonight, and you can share your location with a direct link.
The Bortle Scale, and Why the Map's Colours Aren't Bortle Classes
The map's colours are David Lorenz's light pollution zones, 0 to 7b. Each zone says how much artificial light adds to the sky straight overhead, compared with a natural dark sky. They are not measurements. In Lorenz's words, the maps are "a simulation of the artificial brightness at zenith (straight up)," made from VIIRS satellite night lights processed by the Earth Observation Group, Colorado School of Mines.
The Bortle Dark-Sky Scale, published by John Bortle in Sky & Telescope in 2001, rates a sky from 1 (pristine) to 9 (inner city) by what you can see. Lorenz describes it as "a subjective metric (gauged using your eyes) which takes into account the entire sky from horizon to zenith." Light domes from towns on the horizon count.
That is why a zone is not a Bortle class. Lorenz checked 397 nights of US National Park Service observations and concluded that "zenith brightness and Bortle scale are too different to equate." The usual colour pairings are off: "the yellow zone is usually taken to mean Bortle 4, however, yellow is more often in Bortle 5." He asks sites that use his maps not to "conflate the Bortle Scale with my maps." (Lorenz: Zenith Brightness vs Bortle Scale)
Bortle is still useful for judging a sky you're standing under. As a rough guide, you need Bortle 4 or darker to see the Milky Way clearly. Use the map to find a darker zone, then judge the Bortle class by eye when you get there.
Dark Sky Parks UK - Where to Find the Darkest Skies
The UK has several internationally designated Dark Sky Parks and Reserves, recognised by the DarkSky International (formerly the International Dark-Sky Association). These are the best places to stargaze in the UK, with protected dark skies, minimal light pollution, and often visitor facilities for astronomy.
One of the largest areas of protected dark sky in Europe, home to Kielder Observatory.
Scotland's first Dark Sky Park, with some of the darkest skies in Europe.
England's first International Dark Sky Reserve, in Devon and Somerset.
Wales' first International Dark Sky Reserve in the heart of the national park.
International Dark Sky Reserve in North Wales, with mountain-top stargazing.
Cornwall's first Dark Sky Landscape, with wide open moorland views.
How to Plan a Stargazing Trip
You do not need expensive equipment or travel far to see the night sky. Use our dark sky map to find stargazing spots near you, then follow these tips to make the most of your trip.
- Check the moon phase - the darkest skies occur around a new moon. Even a half moon can wash out fainter stars and the Milky Way.
- Let your eyes adapt - it takes 20 to 30 minutes for your eyes to fully adjust to the dark. Avoid looking at your phone screen (or use a red filter).
- Check the weather - clear skies are essential. Cloud cover is the biggest obstacle to stargazing in the UK.
- Dress warmly - you will be standing still in the dark, often in exposed locations. Even in summer, temperatures drop significantly at night.
- Start with binoculars - a pair of 10x50 binoculars will show you craters on the Moon, Jupiter's moons, star clusters, and more.
- Use a star chart app - apps like Stellarium can help you identify constellations and planets in real time.
Dark Sky Sites UK - Discovery Site Classifications
The UK's Dark Sky Discovery programme registers and classifies stargazing sites across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland based on how dark the sky is at each location. All of them, with the parks and reserves, are shown on our light pollution map above.
- Dark Sky Parks - internationally recognised dark sky areas with formal protection. These offer the very best UK stargazing.
- Milky Way Class - sites dark enough to see the Milky Way with the naked eye. These are excellent stargazing locations.
- Orion Class - sites where you can clearly see the constellation Orion. These have less light pollution than typical suburban areas but may not be dark enough for the Milky Way.
- Associated Sites - observatories, visitor centres, and other locations that support stargazing activities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are the best places to stargaze in the UK?
The best stargazing in the UK is at internationally designated Dark Sky Parks and Reserves: Northumberland (one of the largest protected dark skies in Europe), Galloway Forest Park in Scotland, Exmoor in Devon and Somerset, Brecon Beacons in Wales, Snowdonia (Eryri), and Bodmin Moor in Cornwall. Beyond these, about 140 Dark Sky Discovery Sites across the country offer good to excellent conditions. Enter your postcode in our light pollution map to find the nearest dark sky site.
How do I check light pollution in my area?
Enter your UK postcode into our light pollution map tool or click your location on the map. The overlay shows how bright the night sky is at any point in the UK using 2024 satellite data, colour-coded from darkest to brightest. Areas shown in dark blue or black have the least light pollution. The tool also lists the nearest dark sky sites ranked by distance from your location.
What is the Bortle scale and what do the numbers mean?
The Bortle scale rates, by eye, how much of the night sky you can actually see, from 1 (darkest possible) to 9 (inner-city). In John Bortle's own descriptions, suburban skies are class 5 to 6 and city skies class 8 to 9. You typically need Bortle 4 or darker to see the Milky Way. Some of the darkest UK skies are in its International Dark Sky Parks and Reserves, such as Northumberland, Galloway Forest and Exmoor.
Is this a Bortle scale map?
No. The map's colours are David Lorenz's light pollution zones (0 to 7b), which show sky brightness straight up (zenith brightness), modelled from satellite data, while the Bortle scale is a subjective, whole-sky assessment made by an observer on the ground, light domes on the horizon included. Lorenz compared the two directly using 397 nights of real observations from the US National Park Service's Night Sky Team and recommends not treating them as the same thing. The colour people usually pair with a Bortle class tends to be too optimistic: yellow is more often Bortle 5 than 4, and orange more often Bortle 6 than 5. That's why we show sky brightness rather than printing a Bortle number for your location.
Can you see the Milky Way from England?
Yes, but you need to travel to a location with low light pollution - ideally a dark rural sky (roughly Bortle 4 or darker). On a clear, moonless night at a Milky Way class Dark Sky Discovery Site, the Milky Way is clearly visible. The best months are April to September when the galactic centre is above the horizon. Use our dark sky map to find Milky Way class sites near you.
Where can I see stars near me in the UK?
Use our dark sky finder tool to search by postcode or use your current location. The map shows the nearest Dark Sky Discovery Sites ranked by distance and shows light pollution levels so you can find the darkest accessible location nearby. Even if you cannot reach a designated dark sky park, moving just a few miles from a town centre into rural areas can dramatically improve sky visibility.
When is the best time to go stargazing in the UK?
The best conditions are on clear, moonless nights. New moon periods give the darkest skies - check the moon phase widget on our tool. Winter months (October to March) offer the longest hours of darkness, though clear nights can occur year-round. The Milky Way core is best seen from April to September. Major meteor showers like the Perseids (August) and Geminids (December) are best viewed from dark sky sites.
Do I need a telescope for stargazing?
No. The naked eye is all you need to see constellations, bright planets, meteor showers, the Milky Way, and occasional aurora. A pair of 10x50 binoculars is a great next step, revealing craters on the Moon, Jupiter's moons, the Andromeda galaxy, and many star clusters. A telescope adds more detail but is not necessary to enjoy the night sky.
Read More
Stargazing Guide UK: Best Dark Sky Sites, Bortle Scale & What You Can See - our complete guide to stargazing in the UK, covering all the major Dark Sky Parks, what you can see with the naked eye, what to bring, and how to plan a trip.
Related Tools
More tools for planning and exploring UK locations:
- Sunrise & Sunset Calculator - Find sunrise, sunset and golden hour times for any location
- Measure Distance - Measure straight-line distances to dark sky sites
- Elevation Finder - Check the elevation of potential stargazing locations
- Flood Risk Checker - Check conditions before camping out under the stars