Bengaluru, Karnataka, India — Bortle class 9 (VIIRS satellite data, 2025). Estimated sky brightness SQM 15.48 mag/arcsec², naked-eye limiting magnitude ~3, radiance 57.72 nW/cm²/sr.
Bengaluru has an inner-city sky (Bortle 9). The night sky glows brightly and only the Moon, planets and a handful of stars can be seen. Only a few dozen of the brightest stars are visible to the naked eye (limiting magnitude ~3).
No — the Milky Way is not visible from Bengaluru (Bortle 9 sky). You need to travel to a darker location to see it.
Satellite data shows a Bortle 4 sky (SQM ~21.61) about 47 km south of Bengaluru. Explore the light pollution map to plan a dark-sky trip.
Citizen scientists have contributed 1 sky quality reading near Bengaluru, averaging SQM 22 (Bortle ~1).
Bengaluru has an inner-city sky (Bortle 9). The night sky glows brightly and only the Moon, planets and a handful of stars can be seen. The estimated sky brightness is SQM 15.48 mag/arcsec² (VIIRS satellite data, 2025). Only a few dozen of the brightest stars are visible to the naked eye (limiting magnitude ~3).
No — the Milky Way is not visible from Bengaluru (Bortle 9 sky). You need to travel to a darker location to see it.
Satellite data shows a Bortle 4 sky (SQM ~21.61) about 47 km south of Bengaluru. Check the SkyQI light pollution map to plan a route and find nearby community readings.
Photograph the night sky with the free SkyQI app (iOS and Android) or upload a photo at skyqi.in. You get an instant SQM value and Bortle class for your exact location — satellite estimates can understate the skyglow you actually see from the ground, so real measurements from Bengaluru improve the map for everyone.
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