St. Louis Stargazing & Astronomy Report

Key Sky Quality Metrics

SQM (mag/arcsec²)

17.10

Bortle class

Class 9 (Class 9)

Darkness Quotient

16%

Dataset

July 2026

Inner city sky

St. Louis: The Practical Verdict

St. Louis, a major city in Missouri, grapples with extreme light pollution. The severe urban sky conditions mean that astronomical quality is very limited, with the Milky Way entirely absent. The bright illumination from nearby city lights frames the brightest and darkest horizons unevenly.

For observers in St. Louis, the most practical targets are those less affected by light pollution, such as the Moon, planets, and notable systems like bright stars and double stars. While narrowband imaging can be pursued with care, typical broadband observations and deep-sky targets should be avoided due to intense sky glow and significant loss of contrast.

Travelling to Christian County to the north-east offers a modest improvement, moving into Bortle 5 conditions. Though not dramatically darker, it does permit a wider variety of targets to be accessed with relative ease, provided conditions near the horizon are managed well.

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

Christian County, Illinois is the strongest nearby option but remains Bortle 5; the improvement is real but modest.

Good dark window

St. Louis'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 St. Louis?

No. St. Louis is a Bortle Class 9 sky with SQM 17.10, 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 St. Louis?

St. Louis is Bortle Class 9 (SQM 17.10), a severe urban sky for astronomy.

Is St. Louis good for stargazing?

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

Is St. Louis good for astrophotography?

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

What can you observe from St. Louis?

Primary targets from St. Louis 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 St. Louis?

The closest meaningfully darker mapped site is Swanwick, Illinois, about 73 km south east of St. Louis, reaching Bortle 6.

When is the sky darkest in St. Louis?

The sky over St. Louis is darkest around January, December.

Is light pollution in St. Louis getting better or worse?

There is not yet enough long-term data to give a confident trend for St. Louis.

• Swanwick, Illinois

  Direction

  SE

  Distance (km)

  72.9

  SQM

  19.91

  Bortle

  6

• Christian County, Illinois

  Direction

  NE

  Distance (km)

  105.9

  SQM

  20.71

  Bortle

  5

• Stony Hill, Missouri

  Direction

  W

  Distance (km)

  101.8

  SQM

  20.04

  Bortle

  6

• Huskey, Missouri

  Direction

  S

  Distance (km)

  146.3

  SQM

  20.65

  Bortle

  5

• Checkrow, Illinois

  Direction

  S

  Distance (km)

  216.3

  SQM

  20.67

  Bortle

  5

• Heathsville, Illinois

  Direction

  E

  Distance (km)

  232.6

  SQM

  20.59

  Bortle

  5