AstroBin improves Bortle dark-sky scale handling with location-based assignments

AstroBin Beta Testers 1 reply26 views
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Salvatore Iovene avatar

Hi,

I’ve improved how AstroBin handles the Bortle dark-sky scale so it’s easier to compare your results with images taken under similar sky conditions.

The goal is simple: better Bortle coverage with less manual work, so Bortle-based searches become genuinely useful.

What this gives you

  • Define Bortle once per location, not per acquisition session

  • Automatically fill Bortle values for past images from that location in one step

  • New images inherit Bortle automatically when a location is set, but you can always change it manually

  • One-click search from an image to see others taken under the same Bortle class

If you notice anything off while using it, feel free to report it.

Clear skies,

Salvatore

Screenshot 2026-02-10 at 15.22.08.jpg

Screenshot 2026-02-10 at 15.24.58.jpg

Salvatore Iovene avatar

Hi everyone,

Just to mention quickly that I also added the reverse process: when you upload an image, and set a location, and later set a Bortle value for acquisitions, AstroBin asks you if you would like to update that Location and backfill other images from the same location.

Of course, only if the Location doesn’t have a Bortle scale value already, and all sessions agree on the same.

All of this is already available to the general community, but I would love to get feedback in case you found something not being absolutely perfect.

Thanks!

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