Fort Collins Stargazing & Astronomy Report

Key Sky Quality Metrics

SQM (mag/arcsec²)

19.51

Bortle class

Class 7 (Class 7)

Darkness Quotient

40%

Dataset

July 2026

Suburban/urban transition

Fort Collins: The Practical Verdict

Fort Collins, located in Colorado, is a small city with a suburban mix that doesn't offer ideal conditions for astronomy. The overall sky quality is hindered by high light pollution, making it less suitable for deep-sky observation. The primary limiting factor is the city's light pollution, especially towards the bright south-south-east horizon.

From Fort Collins, the Milky Way is nearly impossible to discern due to the level of light pollution. Observers would do best focusing on brighter targets such as the Moon, planets, and bright double stars, while narrowband imaging requires careful processing to capture bright nebulae. Avoid attempting visual deep-sky observing and Milky Way photography as the conditions are not conducive.

For those seeking a notable improvement, a trip to Sweetwater County, northwest of Fort Collins, is recommended. This area offers a substantially darker sky at Bortle Class 3, well worth visiting for more serious deep-sky pursuits.

At a Glance

Overall

Poor urban/suburban sky - This is a poor sky for astronomy. The Moon, planets, and a few bright objects remain viable, but deep-sky work is difficult.

Milky Way

Not visible - The Milky Way is not realistically visible from this level of light pollution.

Best targets from here

Moon, planets, bright double stars, bright open clusters, narrowband imaging with careful processing

Do not prioritise

visual deep-sky observing, broadband galaxies, reflection nebulae, Milky Way photography

Best nearby upgrade

Sweetwater County, Wyoming sits about 260 km north west and reaches Bortle 3, roughly 7.4x 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 7 sky with SQM 19.51, 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 7 (SQM 19.51), a poor urban/suburban sky for astronomy.

Is Fort Collins good for stargazing?

Not for serious deep-sky observing. Fort Collins is a poor urban/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, bright double stars, bright open clusters, narrowband imaging with careful processing. Targets such as visual deep-sky observing, broadband galaxies, reflection nebulae are not realistic from this sky.

Where are darker skies near Fort Collins?

The closest meaningfully darker mapped site is County Road 84, Colorado, about 36 km east of Fort Collins, reaching Bortle 5.

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?

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

• County Road 84, Colorado

  Direction

  E

  Distance (km)

  35.8

  SQM

  20.45

  Bortle

  5

• Mead, Colorado

  Direction

  S

  Distance (km)

  39.6

  SQM

  20.04

  Bortle

  6

• Sweetwater County, Wyoming

  Direction

  NW

  Distance (km)

  259.9

  SQM

  21.68

  Bortle

  3