Ottawa's Bortle 7 skies clear quickly heading into the Gatineau Hills to the north or the rural Ottawa Valley, where Bortle 3–4 conditions are common within an hour. The North Frontenac Dark Sky Preserve, about two hours south-west, offers Bortle 2 darkness and a dedicated observing pad. At 45.4°N, Ottawa has solid aurora prospects during Kp 5+ storms, with displays visible from dark sites north of the city. Canada's cold, dry winter air brings excellent transparency, though nights are frigid — the trade-off for some of the clearest skies of the year.