Akron Stargazing & Astronomy Report

Light pollution and stargazing locations near Akron

City
Akron
Country
United States
Latitude
41.0814
Longitude
-81.5190

Key Sky Quality Metrics

SQM (mag/arcsec²)
17.85
Bortle class
Class 9 (Class 9)
Darkness Quotient
22%
Dataset
May 2026

Inner city sky

Akron: The Practical Verdict

Akron, a mid-sized city in Ohio, presents challenging conditions for stargazing due to its severe urban sky. The sky here is classified under high light pollution, which means the Milky Way is entirely hidden from view, severely limiting the range of astronomical observations possible. The light pollution is primarily due to the urban density and the influence of nearby cities.

Observation in Akron is reasonably limited to bright targets such as the Moon, planets, and bright stars, with astrophotography confined to narrowband imaging on these objects only. Do not expect to see deep-sky objects like galaxies or nebulae without significant technological aids, such as electronically assisted astronomy, and then only on the brightest clusters under careful conditions.

For those seeking an upgrade in sky quality, Erie County in Pennsylvania offers a modest improvement. Situated about 160 km north-north-east, it provides somewhat clearer skies, though the upgrade in darkness is not dramatic.

At a Glance

Overall
Severe urban sky - This is a severely light-polluted urban sky. Only the Moon, planets, bright stars, and a few specialist targets remain practical.
Milky Way
Not visible - The Milky Way is not visible from this sky.
Best targets from here
Moon, planets, bright stars, double stars, solar system events, narrowband imaging only with care
Do not prioritise
visual deep-sky observing, broadband galaxies, reflection nebulae, widefield Milky Way
Limited nearby upgrade
Erie County, Pennsylvania is the strongest nearby option but remains Bortle 5; the improvement is real but modest.
Good dark window
Akron's longest dark windows fall in December and January, with the shortest nights around June and July. Plan deep-sky sessions around the autumn and winter months for the best combination of long nights and true astronomical darkness.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you see the Milky Way from Akron?

No. Akron is a Bortle Class 9 sky with SQM 17.85, so the Milky Way is not visible from the city. For Milky Way photography, look for a Bortle 4 or darker site.

What Bortle class is Akron?

Akron is Bortle Class 9 (SQM 17.85), a severe urban sky for astronomy.

Is Akron good for stargazing?

Not for serious deep-sky observing. Akron is a severe urban sky where the Moon, planets, and a handful of bright targets are the realistic options from the city itself.

Is Akron good for astrophotography?

Broadband deep-sky imaging is heavily compromised from Akron and a Bortle 4 or darker site is strongly recommended. Even narrowband imaging is difficult from Akron without careful processing.

What can you observe from Akron?

Primary targets from Akron include Moon, planets, bright stars, double stars, solar system events. Targets such as visual deep-sky observing, broadband galaxies, reflection nebulae are not realistic from this sky.

Where are darker skies near Akron?

The closest meaningfully darker mapped site is Loudon Township, Ohio, about 84 km south south east of Akron, reaching Bortle 6.

When is the sky darkest in Akron?

The sky over Akron is darkest around January, December.

Is light pollution in Akron getting better or worse?

Long-term light pollution over Akron has been broadly stable across the available measurements.

north - fair

The north horizon shows a slight brightening. Workable for most targets above about 10 degrees elevation.

north-north-east - fair

The north-north-east horizon shows a slight brightening. Workable for most targets above about 10 degrees elevation.

north-east - fair

Mild brightening on the north-east horizon. Faint stars at the very lowest elevation are dimmed; otherwise unaffected.

east-north-east - fair

Subtle skyglow on the east-north-east horizon. Faint stars below about 10 degrees here are slightly suppressed.

east - fair

Mild brightening on the east horizon. Faint stars at the very lowest elevation are dimmed; otherwise unaffected.

east-south-east - fair

The east-south-east horizon shows a slight brightening. Workable for most targets above about 10 degrees elevation.

south-east - fair

A small artificial brightening near the south-east horizon. Star counts in this direction remain high above the lowest elevations.

south-south-east - fair

A small artificial brightening near the south-south-east horizon. Star counts in this direction remain high above the lowest elevations.

south - fair

Mild brightening on the south horizon. Faint stars at the very lowest elevation are dimmed; otherwise unaffected.

south-south-west - fair

The south-south-west horizon shows a slight brightening. Workable for most targets above about 10 degrees elevation.

south-west - fair

The south-west horizon shows a slight brightening. Workable for most targets above about 10 degrees elevation.

west-south-west - fair

Mild brightening on the west-south-west horizon. Faint stars at the very lowest elevation are dimmed; otherwise unaffected.

west - fair

Subtle skyglow on the west horizon. Faint stars below about 10 degrees here are slightly suppressed.

west-north-west - fair

The west-north-west horizon is mostly dark with a hint of light pollution. Faint stars are accessible above about 10 degrees.

north-west - fair

Subtle skyglow on the north-west horizon. Faint stars below about 10 degrees here are slightly suppressed.

north-north-west - fair

Mild brightening on the north-north-west horizon. Faint stars at the very lowest elevation are dimmed; otherwise unaffected.

zenith - poor

Overhead is dominated by skyglow. Only the brightest stars and planets are clear.

  • Blissfield, Ohio
    Direction
    SSW
    Distance (km)
    85
    SQM
    20.43
    Bortle
    5
  • Loudon Township, Ohio
    Direction
    SSE
    Distance (km)
    83.8
    SQM
    19.98
    Bortle
    6
  • Gardner, Ohio
    Direction
    W
    Distance (km)
    104.8
    SQM
    20.35
    Bortle
    5
  • Erie County, Pennsylvania
    Direction
    NNE
    Distance (km)
    160.1
    SQM
    20.80
    Bortle
    5
  • Connoquenessing Township, Pennsylvania
    Direction
    E
    Distance (km)
    126
    SQM
    20.05
    Bortle
    6
  • Kingsville, Ontario
    Direction
    NW
    Distance (km)
    133.8
    SQM
    20.08
    Bortle
    6