Peoria Stargazing & Astronomy Report

Key Sky Quality Metrics

SQM (mag/arcsec²)

17.99

Bortle class

Class 9 (Class 9)

Darkness Quotient

23%

Dataset

May 2026

Inner city sky

Peoria: The Practical Verdict

Peoria, a small city in Arizona, is heavily affected by urban light pollution from the larger metropolitan area of Phoenix. This results in a severe urban sky where only the brightest celestial objects are visible. Light pollution is significantly high.

From Peoria, the Moon, planets, and bright stars are your best observational targets, with double stars and solar system events also appealing. However, visual deep-sky observing is unfavourable, as the Milky Way is simply not visible under these conditions. Faint nebulae and meteor showers are washed out by the city’s glow.

For those seeking darker skies, heading to NF-239C in Arizona, to the south, offers a substantial upgrade. This location is approximately 315 kilometres away and provides significantly darker conditions suitable for serious deep-sky observation.

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

NF-239C, Arizona sits about 315 km south and reaches Bortle 3, roughly 28x darker.

Good dark window

Peoria'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 Peoria?

No. Peoria is a Bortle Class 9 sky with SQM 17.99, 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 Peoria?

Peoria is Bortle Class 9 (SQM 17.99), a severe urban sky for astronomy.

Is Peoria good for stargazing?

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

Is Peoria good for astrophotography?

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

What can you observe from Peoria?

Primary targets from Peoria 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 Peoria?

The closest meaningfully darker mapped site is Yavapai County, Arizona, about 55 km east south east of Peoria, reaching Bortle 7.

When is the sky darkest in Peoria?

The sky over Peoria is darkest around January, December.

Is light pollution in Peoria getting better or worse?

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

• Yavapai County, Arizona

  Direction

  ESE

  Distance (km)

  54.6

  SQM

  19.50

  Bortle

  7

• La Paz County, Arizona

  Direction

  W

  Distance (km)

  209.8

  SQM

  20.23

  Bortle

  6

• NF-239C, Arizona

  Direction

  S

  Distance (km)

  315.2

  SQM

  21.60

  Bortle

  3