Henderson Stargazing & Astronomy Report

Key Sky Quality Metrics

SQM (mag/arcsec²)

17.92

Bortle class

Class 9 (Class 9)

Darkness Quotient

22%

Dataset

July 2026

Inner city sky

Henderson: The Practical Verdict

Henderson, situated in Nevada, is a mid-size city with a suburban character. The night sky here suffers from severe urban light pollution. The Milky Way is not visible, and observations are highly limited by the city's light dome.

Despite the high level of light pollution, some celestial objects remain viable. Observers can still enjoy the Moon, planets, and bright stars. However, deep-sky targets such as broadband galaxies and faint nebulae are not feasible. Narrowband imaging is possible, albeit with some difficulty.

For better viewing, head to Mohave County, Arizona, which lies about 85 km south-south-east. This location offers a meaningfully darker sky, ideal for serious deep-sky observations.

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

Mohave County, Arizona sits about 85 km south south east and reaches Bortle 4, roughly 19x 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 17.92, 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 17.92), 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 Mohave County, Arizona, about 85 km south south east of Henderson, reaching Bortle 4.

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.

• Mohave County, Arizona

  Direction

  SSE

  Distance (km)

  84.5

  SQM

  21.09

  Bortle

  4

• BLM-63, Arizona

  Direction

  ENE

  Distance (km)

  258.7

  SQM

  21.28

  Bortle

  4

• Lincoln County, Nevada

  Direction

  NNE

  Distance (km)

  274.8

  SQM

  21.29

  Bortle

  4