Lakewood Stargazing & Astronomy Report

Key Sky Quality Metrics

SQM (mag/arcsec²)

18.69

Bortle class

Class 8 (Class 8)

Darkness Quotient

30%

Dataset

May 2026

City sky

Lakewood: The Practical Verdict

Lakewood, a small city in Colorado's suburban belt, endures high levels of light pollution. As a result, the stargazing quality is quite poor for any serious astronomical observation. The glow from nearby Denver further compounds this, making it difficult to find a truly dark spot in the city itself.

The Milky Way remains invisible here, completely washed out by the urban radiance. However, observers might still find joy in viewing the Moon, planets, and brighter stars. For those interested in imaging, narrowband approaches may work, but deep-sky observation remains largely impractical.

For residents or visitors hoping to experience a much darker sky, Fremont County, around 130 km to the south south west, offers a substantial upgrade. This direction provides more favourable conditions for both visual and photographic astronomy as these locations are free from Lakewood's pervasive light.

At a Glance

Overall

Poor city sky - This is a poor city sky. The Milky Way is not visible and most deep-sky observing is unrealistic from the location itself.

Milky Way

Not visible - The Milky Way is erased by the bright urban sky background.

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

Fremont County, Colorado sits about 130 km south south west and reaches Bortle 3, roughly 13x darker.

Good dark window

Lakewood'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 Lakewood?

No. Lakewood is a Bortle Class 8 sky with SQM 18.69, 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 Lakewood?

Lakewood is Bortle Class 8 (SQM 18.69), a poor city sky for astronomy.

Is Lakewood good for stargazing?

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

Is Lakewood good for astrophotography?

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

What can you observe from Lakewood?

Primary targets from Lakewood 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 Lakewood?

The closest meaningfully darker mapped site is Lift 14, Colorado, about 108 km west of Lakewood, reaching Bortle 6.

When is the sky darkest in Lakewood?

The sky over Lakewood is darkest around January, December.

Is light pollution in Lakewood getting better or worse?

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

• Fremont County, Colorado

  Direction

  SSW

  Distance (km)

  130

  SQM

  21.46

  Bortle

  3

• Lift 14, Colorado

  Direction

  W

  Distance (km)

  108.4

  SQM

  20.14

  Bortle

  6

• Shinn Park, Colorado

  Direction

  SW

  Distance (km)

  274.3

  SQM

  21.63

  Bortle

  3