Glendale Stargazing & Astronomy Report

Key Sky Quality Metrics

SQM (mag/arcsec²)

17.81

Bortle class

Class 9 (Class 9)

Darkness Quotient

21%

Dataset

May 2026

Inner city sky

Glendale: The Practical Verdict

Glendale, situated in Arizona, lies within the suburban sprawl of a mid-sized city, where light pollution is significant. The city's night sky is dominated by severe urban sky conditions, with Bortle Class 9 making most deep-sky observing impractical. The proximity to Phoenix, a major urban area about 15 km to the south-east, further exacerbates the brightness of the sky.

The realistic targets for visual observers in Glendale are limited to the Moon, planets, bright stars, and double stars, along with observing certain solar system events. Deep sky and widefield Milky Way views are generally absent, and only the brightest nebulae might be seen with careful narrowband imaging. Observing conditions are slightly better towards the north-west, away from Phoenix's brightest skyglow.

For those seeking darker skies, Navajo Route 6810 in Arizona, about 240 km north-east, provides an upgrade to Bortle Class 3 conditions. This site offers a significant reduction in light pollution, making it a valuable destination for more serious astronomical pursuits.

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

Best nearby upgrade

Navajo Route 6810, Arizona sits about 239 km north east and reaches Bortle 3, roughly 27x darker.

Good dark window

Glendale'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 Glendale?

No. Glendale is a Bortle Class 9 sky with SQM 17.81, 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 Glendale?

Glendale is Bortle Class 9 (SQM 17.81), a severe urban sky for astronomy.

Is Glendale good for stargazing?

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

Is Glendale good for astrophotography?

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

What can you observe from Glendale?

Primary targets from Glendale 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 Glendale?

The closest meaningfully darker mapped site is Maricopa County, Arizona, about 151 km south west of Glendale, reaching Bortle 4.

When is the sky darkest in Glendale?

The sky over Glendale is darkest around January, December.

Is light pollution in Glendale getting better or worse?

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

• Maricopa County, Arizona

  Direction

  SW

  Distance (km)

  150.8

  SQM

  20.84

  Bortle

  4

• Gu Vo District, Arizona

  Direction

  SSW

  Distance (km)

  178

  SQM

  20.29

  Bortle

  6

• Navajo Route 6810, Arizona

  Direction

  NE

  Distance (km)

  239.3

  SQM

  21.38

  Bortle

  3