Memphis Stargazing & Astronomy Report

Key Sky Quality Metrics

SQM (mag/arcsec²)

17.52

Bortle class

Class 9 (Class 9)

Darkness Quotient

19%

Dataset

August 2026

Inner city sky

Memphis: The Practical Verdict

Memphis, a major city in Tennessee, presents challenging conditions for stargazing. With extreme light pollution, the urban sky is severely compromised for astronomical observations. The most significant limitation is the light dome which drowns out all but the brightest celestial objects.

From Memphis, the Milky Way is not visible at all. Observers will have to content themselves with bright planetary targets and the Moon. Double stars and solar system events remain viable, but deep-sky viewing is best avoided under this light-drenched canopy.

For those seeking darker skies, a meaningful improvement can be found by travelling west-south-west to Arkansas County, Arkansas, approximately 180 km away. This site, at Bortle 4, offers significantly better conditions for deep-sky observing.

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

Arkansas County, Arkansas sits about 180 km west south west and reaches Bortle 4, roughly 23x darker.

Good dark window

Memphis'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 Memphis?

No. Memphis is a Bortle Class 9 sky with SQM 17.52, 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 Memphis?

Memphis is Bortle Class 9 (SQM 17.52), a severe urban sky for astronomy.

Is Memphis good for stargazing?

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

Is Memphis good for astrophotography?

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

What can you observe from Memphis?

Primary targets from Memphis 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 Memphis?

The closest meaningfully darker mapped site is Arkansas County, Arkansas, about 180 km west south west of Memphis, reaching Bortle 4.

When is the sky darkest in Memphis?

The sky over Memphis is darkest around January, December.

Is light pollution in Memphis getting better or worse?

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

• Arkansas County, Arkansas

  Direction

  WSW

  Distance (km)

  180.1

  SQM

  20.93

  Bortle

  4

• 149, Tennessee

  Direction

  NE

  Distance (km)

  199.7

  SQM

  20.78

  Bortle

  5

• Harriet, Arkansas

  Direction

  WNW

  Distance (km)

  252.2

  SQM

  21.13

  Bortle

  4