Want to see the true colors of the night sky? Well, you need to find a really dark spot. And the darkest is Bortle 1. But first, let me explain. The best kind of sky for astrophotography is called a Bortle 1 sky. It is only 0.01 from a perfect sky on the SQM scale. You may already know a few of the night sky wonders: the Aurora, Zodiacal Light, and Airglow, but they are completely different under Bortle 1.

Let’s dive into the amazing world of Bortle 1 skies and discover the wonders of deep-sky objects and celestial waveforms. Both the ones you can see with your own eyes and the ones you need special cameras for. I’ll share pictures taken by me and other talented Astrophotographers from the USA, Iceland, the Middle East, Europe, and more.

The Bortle scale

The Bortle Scale, developed by John E. Bortle, is a widely used system for classifying the darkness of the night sky. It ranges from Class 1 (the darkest) to Class 9 (the most light-polluted). A Bortle 1 sky signifies an area with minimal light pollution, which you can often find in remote regions, far from urban centers. In such pristine conditions, the naked eye is capable of discerning intricate details of celestial wonders that are otherwise obscured by light pollution

A Bortle 1 sky is really special because it means the sky is incredibly dark and free from light pollution. You usually find these skies in remote areas, far away from cities. In these pristine conditions, you can see, and photograph, amazing details of celestial objects that would normally be hidden by all the city lights. It’s like having a front-row seat to the beauty of the night sky.

Deep-Sky objects visible to the naked Eye at Bortle 1

The milky way

In a Bortle 1 sky, you get to see the Milky Way in all its breathtaking glory. It’s like a soft band of light that stretches across the entire night sky. And guess what? It’s not just a plain band of light. It’s filled with so many amazing things like stars, nebulae (which are like colorful clouds of gas), and clusters of stars.

Andromeda Galaxy (M31)

One of the most breathtaking sights in a Bortle 1 sky is the Andromeda Galaxy, our nearest spiral galactic neighbor. Spanning over six times the size of the full moon, this majestic galaxy appears as a faint, elongated blur of light. With patience and a keen eye, one can perceive its core and perhaps even trace the spiral arms.

The Orion Nebula (M42)

The Orion Nebula, situated within the iconic constellation of Orion, is a stellar nursery where new stars are born. In a Bortle 1 sky, the nebula’s wispy tendrils and intricate details become readily apparent. The central Trapezium Cluster, composed of young, hot stars, is also discernible, adding to the awe-inspiring nature of this celestial wonder.

Pleiades (M45) – A.K.A The Seven Sisters

The Pleiades star cluster is a group of young, hot stars that form a distinct pattern in the night sky. In a Bortle 1 sky, the Pleiades cluster reveals its true splendor, with its brightest stars surrounded by a delicate haze of nebulosity.

Celestial Waveforms @ Bortle 1

Apart from the usual objects, a Bortle 1 sky allows observers to witness various celestial waveforms with the naked eye. These transient phenomena occur naturally in the Earth’s atmosphere and space. Solar maximum is reaching to its cycle peek in 2025 and bursting massive amounts of energies. Those are seen as aurora lights, Airglow and Zodiacal Light:

Aurora Borealis and Aurora Australis

The captivating light shows known as the Northern and Southern Lights, respectively, occur when charged particles from the Sun interact with Earth’s magnetosphere. In a Bortle 1 sky, these ethereal displays of shimmering colors dance across the horizon, leaving spectators in awe of their ever-changing patterns.

Zodiacal Light

This faint, cone-shaped glow is caused by sunlight scattered off interplanetary dust in the plane of our solar system. In a Bortle 1 sky, during the right conditions and at the right time of year, the zodiacal light becomes visible shortly after sunset or before dawn, extending upwards from the western or eastern horizon

Airglow

Airglow is a faint emission of light caused by various chemical reactions in Earth’s upper atmosphere. In a Bortle 1 sky, this phenomenon can manifest as a subtle, diffused glow that adds a mystical ambiance to the night sky.

Bortle 1 conclusion

To wrap it up, the wonders of a Bortle 1 sky are absolutely incredible. When there’s minimal light pollution, you can see so much with just your own eyes. You can witness the beauty of deep-sky objects and experience the mesmerizing celestial waveforms that decorate our night sky. It’s like having a front-row seat to the marvels of the universe.

Imagine being able to see the intricate details of galaxies far, far away or witnessing the enchanting dance of the Northern Lights. That’s what a Bortle 1 sky offers you—a chance to glimpse the vastness and breathtaking beauty of the universe.

So, the next time you find yourself in a remote place blessed with the amazing quality of a Bortle 1 sky, take a moment to simply look up. Let yourself be captivated by the awe-inspiring sights that await your gaze. It’s an experience you won’t soon forget. Happy Astrophotography!

About the author

Roi Levi is an Astro and landscape photographer. He also gives night photography workshops in Israel and USA (Texas and Utah) with Deep Space Workshops. You can find more of Roi’s work on Instagram and Facebook.