Arlington Stargazing & Astronomy Report

Key Sky Quality Metrics

SQM (mag/arcsec²)

17.45

Bortle class

Class 9 (Class 9)

Darkness Quotient

19%

Dataset

May 2026

Inner city sky

Arlington: The Practical Verdict

Arlington in Texas is a mid-sized city with a substantial light pollution issue. The overall stargazing experience here is dominated by a severe urban sky with a Bortle Class 9 rating, making it extremely challenging for deep-sky astronomy. The primary limiting factor is the pervasive light from the city itself, exacerbated by nearby Dallas to the east.

From Arlington, focus on observing the Moon, planets, and double stars, which remain viable targets. The Milky Way is completely washed out by the city's light dome. Observational care can occasionally bring brighter nebulae and open clusters into view through narrowband filters, but visual deep-sky observing of galaxies or faint nebulae is impractical.

A limited upgrade in sky quality can be found at Brock, Oklahoma, to the south. However, while there is some improvement, it is not a dramatic escape from Arlington's extreme light pollution. The best strategy may be to concentrate on urban-friendly targets or consider travelling further for a notably darker experience.

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

Brock, Oklahoma 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 17.45, 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 17.45), 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 Melissa, Texas, about 80 km north east 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?

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

• Melissa, Texas

  Direction

  NE

  Distance (km)

  80.2

  SQM

  19.38

  Bortle

  7

• Montague County, Texas

  Direction

  NW

  Distance (km)

  111.2

  SQM

  20.03

  Bortle

  6

• Brock, Oklahoma

  Direction

  S

  Distance (km)

  149.8

  SQM

  20.50

  Bortle

  5

• County Road 325, Texas

  Direction

  S

  Distance (km)

  184.1

  SQM

  20.39

  Bortle

  5

• County Road 185, Texas

  Direction

  SE

  Distance (km)

  194.6

  SQM

  20.37

  Bortle

  5