San Antonio Stargazing & Astronomy Report

Key Sky Quality Metrics

SQM (mag/arcsec²)

17.27

Bortle class

Class 9 (Class 9)

Darkness Quotient

18%

Dataset

May 2026

Inner city sky

San Antonio: The Practical Verdict

San Antonio, a major city in Texas, is heavily impacted by extreme light pollution. The sky here bears a severe urban quality, with very limited options for fruitful stargazing. The most significant hurdle is the intense light dome that obscures all but the brightest celestial objects.

From this location, expect to focus on the Moon and planets, with occasional opportunities to enjoy bright stars and solar system events. Double stars present another option, but visual deep-sky observing is essentially futile due to the intense illumination. The Milky Way remains completely elusive against such light conditions.

For a modestly better observing environment, head south-west to Moore, Texas. Although it offers some improvement, it does not dramatically alter the observing experience. As such, patience and selective targeting remain essential for any stargazing attempts from this urban setting.

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

Limited nearby upgrade

Moore, Texas is the strongest nearby option but remains Bortle 5; the improvement is real but modest.

Good dark window

San Antonio'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 San Antonio?

No. San Antonio is a Bortle Class 9 sky with SQM 17.27, 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 San Antonio?

San Antonio is Bortle Class 9 (SQM 17.27), a severe urban sky for astronomy.

Is San Antonio good for stargazing?

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

Is San Antonio good for astrophotography?

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

What can you observe from San Antonio?

Primary targets from San Antonio 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 San Antonio?

The closest meaningfully darker mapped site is Moore, Texas, about 76 km south west of San Antonio, reaching Bortle 5.

When is the sky darkest in San Antonio?

The sky over San Antonio is darkest around January, December.

Is light pollution in San Antonio getting better or worse?

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

• San Antonio, Texas

  Direction

  ESE

  Distance (km)

  22.7

  SQM

  18.79

  Bortle

  8

• Moore, Texas

  Direction

  SW

  Distance (km)

  76.3

  SQM

  20.49

  Bortle

  5

• Cotulla, Texas

  Direction

  SW

  Distance (km)

  130.9

  SQM

  20.63

  Bortle

  5

• Goliad County, Texas

  Direction

  SE

  Distance (km)

  139.5

  SQM

  20.57

  Bortle

  5

• Fayette County, Texas

  Direction

  ENE

  Distance (km)

  153.8

  SQM

  20.14

  Bortle

  6

• Lolita, Texas

  Direction

  ESE

  Distance (km)

  201.3

  SQM

  20.79

  Bortle

  5