Fort Collins Stargazing & Astronomy Report

Key Sky Quality Metrics

SQM (mag/arcsec²)

19.62

Bortle class

Class 6 (Class 6)

Darkness Quotient

42%

Dataset

August 2026

Bright suburban sky

Fort Collins: The Practical Verdict

Fort Collins, a small city in Colorado, presents itself as a limited suburban sky destination. The light pollution puts it firmly in the category of moderate light pollution, with the Milky Way not visible due to the bright sky background.

For sky watchers, bright targets such as the Moon, planets, and double stars are the most practical. Bright open clusters and bright nebula cores may still offer engaging views, but faint galaxies and reflection nebulae should be avoided. Narrowband imaging can be viable with suitable filters.

For more serious stargazers eager to observe faint deep-sky objects, a trip to County Road 59 in Colorado, about 265 km to the west, significantly improves sky conditions, offering a more pristine sky with less light pollution.

At a Glance

Overall

Limited suburban sky - This is a limited sky for astronomy. The brightest targets remain accessible, but faint deep-sky observing is heavily compromised.

Milky Way

Not visible - The sky background is generally too bright for a reliable Milky Way view.

Best targets from here

Moon, planets, double stars, bright open clusters, narrowband imaging, bright nebula cores

Do not prioritise

broadband galaxies, reflection nebulae, visual faint nebulae, Milky Way photography

Best nearby upgrade

County Road 59, Colorado sits about 264 km west and reaches Bortle 2, roughly 7.0x darker.

Good dark window

Fort Collins'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 Fort Collins?

No. Fort Collins is a Bortle Class 6 sky with SQM 19.62, 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 Fort Collins?

Fort Collins is Bortle Class 6 (SQM 19.62), a limited suburban sky for astronomy.

Is Fort Collins good for stargazing?

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

Is Fort Collins good for astrophotography?

Broadband deep-sky imaging is heavily compromised from Fort Collins and a Bortle 4 or darker site is strongly recommended. Narrowband imaging of bright emission nebulae remains viable from Fort Collins with appropriate Ha or OIII filters.

What can you observe from Fort Collins?

Primary targets from Fort Collins include Moon, planets, double stars, bright open clusters, narrowband imaging. Targets such as broadband galaxies, reflection nebulae, visual faint nebulae are not realistic from this sky.

Where are darker skies near Fort Collins?

The closest meaningfully darker mapped site is County Road 59, Colorado, about 264 km west of Fort Collins, reaching Bortle 2.

When is the sky darkest in Fort Collins?

The sky over Fort Collins is darkest around January, December.

Is light pollution in Fort Collins getting better or worse?

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

• Cottonwood Shores West, Colorado

  Direction

  NNE

  Distance (km)

  8.6

  SQM

  20.44

  Bortle

  5

• Severance, Colorado

  Direction

  E

  Distance (km)

  15.2

  SQM

  20.21

  Bortle

  6

• County Road 59, Colorado

  Direction

  W

  Distance (km)

  263.8

  SQM

  21.73

  Bortle

  2