Nashville Stargazing & Astronomy Report
Light pollution and stargazing locations near Nashville
- City
- Nashville
- Country
- United States
- Latitude
- 36.1627
- Longitude
- -86.7816
Key Sky Quality Metrics
- SQM (mag/arcsec²)
- 17.16
- Bortle class
- Class 9 (Class 9)
- Darkness Quotient
- 17%
- Dataset
- May 2026
Inner city sky
Nashville: The Practical Verdict
Nashville, a major city in Tennessee, is deeply affected by extreme light pollution. Sky quality is generally poor for astronomical observations, rendering it a challenging environment for stargazing enthusiasts. The primary limiting factor is the severe urban light, obscuring many night sky wonders.
Within Nashville, stargazers can realistically focus on the Moon, planets, and bright stars. While some bright nebulae might be glimpsed with narrowband filters, most deep-sky objects are obscured. Serious observations of galaxies, reflection nebulae, and meteor showers are severely hampered.
For those seeking clearer skies, Davis Cemetery in Tennessee offers the best nearby upgrade. Situated about 145 km south-west, this site provides a significant improvement in sky quality with Bortle Class 4 conditions, making it worthwhile for dedicated 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
- Davis Cemetery, Tennessee sits about 146 km south west and reaches Bortle 4, roughly 33x darker.
- Good dark window
- Nashville'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 Nashville?
No. Nashville is a Bortle Class 9 sky with SQM 17.16, 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 Nashville?
Nashville is Bortle Class 9 (SQM 17.16), a severe urban sky for astronomy.
Is Nashville good for stargazing?
Not for serious deep-sky observing. Nashville is a severe urban sky where the Moon, planets, and a handful of bright targets are the realistic options from the city itself.
Is Nashville good for astrophotography?
Broadband deep-sky imaging is heavily compromised from Nashville and a Bortle 4 or darker site is strongly recommended. Even narrowband imaging is difficult from Nashville without careful processing.
What can you observe from Nashville?
Primary targets from Nashville 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 Nashville?
The closest meaningfully darker mapped site is Davis Cemetery, Tennessee, about 146 km south west of Nashville, reaching Bortle 4.
When is the sky darkest in Nashville?
The sky over Nashville is darkest around January, December.
Is light pollution in Nashville getting better or worse?
Long-term light pollution over Nashville has been broadly stable across the available measurements.
north - fair
Light glow detectable on the north horizon. The effect fades quickly with elevation and does not affect overhead work.
north-north-east - marginal
Soft skyglow visible on the north-north-east horizon. Mid-brightness stars survive at low elevation; the faintest do not.
north-east - marginal
Soft skyglow visible on the north-east horizon. Mid-brightness stars survive at low elevation; the faintest do not.
east-north-east - marginal
The east-north-east lower sky is measurably brighter than the darker quarters. Limit faint work to above about 20 degrees here.
east - marginal
The east lower sky is measurably brighter than the darker quarters. Limit faint work to above about 20 degrees here.
east-south-east - marginal
A diffuse glow sits on the east-south-east horizon. Faint objects below 20 degrees in this direction are compromised.
south-east - marginal
The south-east lower sky is measurably brighter than the darker quarters. Limit faint work to above about 20 degrees here.
south-south-east - marginal
Noticeable glow on the south-south-east horizon. Stars below about 20 degrees in this direction are dimmed.
south - marginal
Noticeable glow on the south horizon. Stars below about 20 degrees in this direction are dimmed.
south-south-west - fair
A trace of skyglow near the south-south-west horizon. Stars are clear throughout this direction except very close to the ground.
south-west - fair
Faint glow on the south-west horizon. Most stars are visible to low elevation; only the faintest near the ground are affected.
west-south-west - fair
Faint glow on the west-south-west horizon. Most stars are visible to low elevation; only the faintest near the ground are affected.
west - fair
Faint glow on the west horizon. Most stars are visible to low elevation; only the faintest near the ground are affected.
west-north-west - fair
The west-north-west sky is broadly dark with a small amount of glow at the horizon. Most objects in this direction are accessible.
north-west - good
Dark sky in the north-west direction with no obvious skyglow. Suitable for faint-object work at low elevation.
north-north-west - fair
The north-north-west sky is broadly dark with a small amount of glow at the horizon. Most objects in this direction are accessible.
zenith - poor
The zenith sky background is high. Most faint stars are absent and the Milky Way cannot be seen.
-
Davis Cemetery, Tennessee
- Direction
- SW
- Distance (km)
- 145.6
- SQM
- 20.97
- Bortle
- 4
-
161 km NE
- Direction
- NE
- Distance (km)
- 161.1
- SQM
- 20.96
- Bortle
- 4
-
Jackson County, Alabama
- Direction
- SSE
- Distance (km)
- 167.3
- SQM
- 20.11
- Bortle
- 6
-
County Road 190, Indiana
- Direction
- ENE
- Distance (km)
- 230.1
- SQM
- 20.73
- Bortle
- 5
-
County Road 400 North, Illinois
- Direction
- NW
- Distance (km)
- 253.6
- SQM
- 20.70
- Bortle
- 5