Stargazing guide
Stargazing in Portland, ME
The Milky Way core never climbs 20° above the horizon during astronomical darkness from here.
How dark the sky is around Portland, ME, the nearest certified dark-sky places, when the Milky Way core is visible, and the next dark New Moon. Calculated for 43.66°, -70.26°.
Estimated sky glow
Milky Way core
Next New Moon
Dark-sky rating for Portland
We have no population figure for Portland, ME, so we do not estimate its sky glow here.
For a measured reading at any point, open the live Dark Sky map.
Nearest dark-sky places and observatories
No certified dark-sky place or observatory in our registry lies within 150 km of Portland. Our list only includes genuine, publicly documented sites, so none is shown rather than guessed.
Milky Way season in Portland
The Milky Way's bright core never climbs 20° above the horizon during astronomical darkness from Portland; the fainter band is still visible from a dark site.
- The north celestial pole stands 43.7° above the horizon, so stars within 44° of it never set from here.
- About 84.5% of the whole sky rises above the horizon at some point in the year from this latitude.
- The Milky Way's core in Sagittarius culminates about 17.3° up, staying low, so a clear southern horizon matters.
Tonight and aurora
As of October 19, 2026 (UTC) the Moon is a Waxing Gibbous at 62% illumination. Aurora at 43.7° latitude generally needs about Kp 7.8.
Nearby places
Stargazing in Portland: common questions
Is Portland a good place for stargazing?
We have no population figure for Portland, ME, so we do not estimate its sky glow. Use the live Dark Sky map to read the light level at the exact spot you plan to observe from.
When can you see the Milky Way from Portland?
From Portland, ME the Milky Way's bright core never climbs 20° above the horizon during astronomical darkness at any time of year, so the best views are of the fainter parts of the band.
What is the best night this month for stargazing near Portland?
The darkest nights fall around the New Moon. As of 2026-10-19 the Moon is a Waxing Gibbous at 62% illumination, and the next New Moon is November 9, 2026 (UTC). Pair it with a clear forecast and a site away from town lights.