St. Paul Stargazing & Astronomy Report

Key Sky Quality Metrics

SQM (mag/arcsec²)

17.85

Bortle class

Class 9 (Class 9)

Darkness Quotient

22%

Dataset

July 2026

Inner city sky

St. Paul: The Practical Verdict

St. Paul, located in Minnesota, is a mid-size city with severe urban sky conditions dominating its nightscape. The sky quality is drastically reduced by high levels of light pollution, rendering the Milky Way invisible. The primary limiting factor here is the substantial light dome due to its proximity to Minneapolis, especially towards the west.

From St. Paul, the best observing targets include the Moon, bright planets, and double stars, which can be seen despite the heavy light pollution. However, deep-sky objects such as galaxies and faint nebulae should be avoided due to the intense sky glow. Narrowband imaging can be undertaken with care, but the overall setting is far from ideal for detailed astronomy work.

For genuinely improved observing conditions, consider heading to the Town of Irving, Wisconsin, to the east south-east, around a longer drive away. It offers significantly darker skies suitable for serious deep-sky pursuits.

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

Town of Irving, Wisconsin sits about 186 km east south east and reaches Bortle 4, roughly 16x darker.

Good dark window

St. Paul'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. Paul?

No. St. Paul is a Bortle Class 9 sky with SQM 17.85, 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. Paul?

St. Paul is Bortle Class 9 (SQM 17.85), a severe urban sky for astronomy.

Is St. Paul good for stargazing?

Not for serious deep-sky observing. St. Paul 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. Paul good for astrophotography?

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

What can you observe from St. Paul?

Primary targets from St. Paul 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. Paul?

The closest meaningfully darker mapped site is Scandia, Minnesota, about 35 km north north east of St. Paul, reaching Bortle 6.

When is the sky darkest in St. Paul?

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

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

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

• Scandia, Minnesota

  Direction

  NNE

  Distance (km)

  35.1

  SQM

  19.87

  Bortle

  6

• Mazeppa Township, Minnesota

  Direction

  SSE

  Distance (km)

  86.7

  SQM

  20.40

  Bortle

  5

• Town of Irving, Wisconsin

  Direction

  ESE

  Distance (km)

  186.2

  SQM

  20.84

  Bortle

  4