Arlington Stargazing & Astronomy Report

Key Sky Quality Metrics

SQM (mag/arcsec²)

17.34

Bortle class

Class 9 (Class 9)

Darkness Quotient

18%

Dataset

July 2026

Inner city sky

Arlington: The Practical Verdict

Arlington, a mid-sized city in Texas, presents a challenging environment for astronomers due to extreme light pollution. The overall urban brightness severely limits sky quality, reducing visibility to the brightest objects such as the Moon and planets.

In practice, from Arlington, the Milky Way is entirely invisible, and only the brightest solar system objects and some luminous double stars can be observed. Visual deep-sky observing is not viable here, and attempts at broadband deep-sky imaging will face significant interference from the sky's background light.

For those seeking a modest improvement, Centerville, Texas offers a potential option to the south-south-east. However, it offers only a limited upgrade due to its distance. Observers should consider such options thoughtfully, as the improvements are 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

Centerville, Texas is the strongest nearby option but remains Bortle 5; the improvement is real but modest.

Good dark window

Arlington'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 Arlington?

No. Arlington is a Bortle Class 9 sky with SQM 17.34, 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 Arlington?

Arlington is Bortle Class 9 (SQM 17.34), a severe urban sky for astronomy.

Is Arlington good for stargazing?

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

Is Arlington good for astrophotography?

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

What can you observe from Arlington?

Primary targets from Arlington 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 Arlington?

The closest meaningfully darker mapped site is Denton County, Texas, about 39 km north west of Arlington, reaching Bortle 7.

When is the sky darkest in Arlington?

The sky over Arlington is darkest around January, December.

Is light pollution in Arlington getting better or worse?

There is not yet enough long-term data to give a confident trend for Arlington.

• Denton County, Texas

  Direction

  NW

  Distance (km)

  38.9

  SQM

  19.08

  Bortle

  7

• Strunc Road, Texas

  Direction

  SE

  Distance (km)

  78.3

  SQM

  19.50

  Bortle

  7

• Cooke County, Texas

  Direction

  ESE

  Distance (km)

  87.2

  SQM

  19.64

  Bortle

  6

• Centerville, Texas

  Direction

  SSE

  Distance (km)

  195.6

  SQM

  20.61

  Bortle

  5

• County Road 350, Texas

  Direction

  S

  Distance (km)

  186.5

  SQM

  20.40

  Bortle

  5