Amarillo Stargazing & Astronomy Report

Key Sky Quality Metrics

SQM (mag/arcsec²)

18.66

Bortle class

Class 8 (Class 8)

Darkness Quotient

29%

Dataset

May 2026

City sky

Amarillo: The Practical Verdict

Amarillo, nestled in the heart of Texas, is a small city with a population of around 200,000. In terms of stargazing, the city suffers from high light pollution with skies classified under Bortle 8. This results in a poor city sky where the Milky Way is completely wiped out by the urban glow.

From within Amarillo, observing is quite limited. The best celestial targets include the Moon, planets, and double stars, as these puncture the urban light dome more reliably. For deep-sky enthusiasts, bright nebulae using narrowband filters or bright open clusters might be possible, but these require care and patience. Steer clear of broadband galaxies and faint nebulae as they are practically invisible here.

The best option for serious deep-sky observing is to head towards County Road SS, Kansas, located to the north north-east. This site, approximately 270 km away, offers significantly darker skies, making it well worth the drive for those looking to escape the city light.

At a Glance

Overall

Poor city sky - This is a poor city sky. The Milky Way is not visible and most deep-sky observing is unrealistic from the location itself.

Milky Way

Not visible - The Milky Way is erased by the bright urban sky background.

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

Best nearby upgrade

County Road SS, Kansas sits about 270 km north north east and reaches Bortle 3, roughly 15x darker.

Good dark window

Amarillo'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 Amarillo?

No. Amarillo is a Bortle Class 8 sky with SQM 18.66, 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 Amarillo?

Amarillo is Bortle Class 8 (SQM 18.66), a poor city sky for astronomy.

Is Amarillo good for stargazing?

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

Is Amarillo good for astrophotography?

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

What can you observe from Amarillo?

Primary targets from Amarillo 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 Amarillo?

The closest meaningfully darker mapped site is Mayfield, Texas, about 123 km south of Amarillo, reaching Bortle 6.

When is the sky darkest in Amarillo?

The sky over Amarillo is darkest around January, December.

Is light pollution in Amarillo getting better or worse?

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

• Mayfield, Texas

  Direction

  S

  Distance (km)

  123.1

  SQM

  20.30

  Bortle

  6

• Star Route, Texas

  Direction

  SSW

  Distance (km)

  191.3

  SQM

  21.13

  Bortle

  4

• County Road SS, Kansas

  Direction

  NNE

  Distance (km)

  270.4

  SQM

  21.58

  Bortle

  3