Henderson Stargazing & Astronomy Report

Key Sky Quality Metrics

SQM (mag/arcsec²)

17.96

Bortle class

Class 9 (Class 9)

Darkness Quotient

23%

Dataset

April 2026

Inner city sky

Henderson: The Practical Verdict

Henderson, a mid-sized city in Nevada, is heavily influenced by high light pollution levels, primarily due to its proximity to Las Vegas, located about 20 km to the north-west. From here, the sky quality is severely urban, with Bortle Class 9 conditions rendering the Milky Way entirely invisible.

Observations from Henderson mainly focus on brighter celestial objects like the Moon, planets, and double stars. Narrowband astrophotography can be attempted on selective bright targets under careful planning, but deep-sky visual observations and broadband imaging suffer from overwhelming sky brightness.

For significantly improved observing conditions, a trip south to San Bernardino County, California, offers Bortle Class 3 skies and greatly enhanced views of deep-sky targets. This upgrade is recommended for enthusiasts seeking dark, high-quality skies.

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

San Bernardino County, California sits about 169 km south and reaches Bortle 3, roughly 24x darker.

Good dark window

Henderson'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 Henderson?

No. Henderson is a Bortle Class 9 sky with SQM 17.96, 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 Henderson?

Henderson is Bortle Class 9 (SQM 17.96), a severe urban sky for astronomy.

Is Henderson good for stargazing?

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

Is Henderson good for astrophotography?

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

What can you observe from Henderson?

Primary targets from Henderson 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 Henderson?

The closest meaningfully darker mapped site is San Bernardino County, California, about 169 km south of Henderson, reaching Bortle 3.

When is the sky darkest in Henderson?

The sky over Henderson is darkest around January, December.

Is light pollution in Henderson getting better or worse?

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

• San Bernardino County, California

  Direction

  S

  Distance (km)

  168.7

  SQM

  21.43

  Bortle

  3

• Forest Service Road 328, Arizona

  Direction

  E

  Distance (km)

  252.5

  SQM

  21.68

  Bortle

  3

• San Bernardino County, California

  Direction

  SSW

  Distance (km)

  195

  SQM

  20.62

  Bortle

  5

• San Bernardino County, California

  Direction

  WSW

  Distance (km)

  219.2

  SQM

  20.95

  Bortle

  4