Des Moines Stargazing & Astronomy Report
Light pollution and stargazing locations near Des Moines
- City
- Des Moines
- Country
- United States
- Latitude
- 41.5868
- Longitude
- -93.6250
Key Sky Quality Metrics
- SQM (mag/arcsec²)
- 17.41
- Bortle class
- Class 9 (Class 9)
- Darkness Quotient
- 18%
- Dataset
- April 2026
Inner city sky
Des Moines: The Practical Verdict
Des Moines, a mid-sized city in central Iowa, presents challenging stargazing conditions due to its urban density and extreme light pollution levels. The inner-city sky is classified as Bortle 9, severely limiting the visibility of anything beyond the Moon and the brightest planets or stars.
In the current sky, the Milky Way is entirely invisible. Observers can only expect bright targets such as the Moon, planets, and selected double stars to be visible. Imaging is constrained, with narrowband approaches viable only with effort. Deep-sky visual observation and wide-field astrophotography are unfeasible due to the strong sky glow.
A short drive west brings you to Pymosa Township, Iowa, offering darker conditions with Bortle 4 skies, making it a worthwhile destination for more serious stargazing endeavours.
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
- Pymosa Township, Iowa sits about 110 km west and reaches Bortle 4, roughly 23x darker.
- Good dark window
- Des Moines'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 Des Moines?
No. Des Moines is a Bortle Class 9 sky with SQM 17.41, 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 Des Moines?
Des Moines is Bortle Class 9 (SQM 17.41), a severe urban sky for astronomy.
Is Des Moines good for stargazing?
Not for serious deep-sky observing. Des Moines is a severe urban sky where the Moon, planets, and a handful of bright targets are the realistic options from the city itself.
Is Des Moines good for astrophotography?
Broadband deep-sky imaging is heavily compromised from Des Moines and a Bortle 4 or darker site is strongly recommended. Even narrowband imaging is difficult from Des Moines without careful processing.
What can you observe from Des Moines?
Primary targets from Des Moines 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 Des Moines?
The closest meaningfully darker mapped site is Alleman, Iowa, about 23 km west south west of Des Moines, reaching Bortle 7.
When is the sky darkest in Des Moines?
The sky over Des Moines is darkest around January, December.
Is light pollution in Des Moines getting better or worse?
Long-term light pollution over Des Moines has been broadly stable across the available measurements.
north - marginal
The north sky shows a clear glow near the ground. Above about 20 degrees the sky returns to workable.
north-north-east - marginal
The north-north-east lower sky is measurably brighter than the darker quarters. Limit faint work to above about 20 degrees here.
north-east - marginal
A diffuse glow sits on the north-east horizon. Faint objects below 20 degrees in this direction are compromised.
east-north-east - fair
The east-north-east sky is broadly dark with a small amount of glow at the horizon. Most objects in this direction are accessible.
east - fair
The east sky is broadly dark with a small amount of glow at the horizon. Most objects in this direction are accessible.
east-south-east - good
The east-south-east horizon is dark. Faint stars are visible close to the ground.
south-east - fair
Faint glow on the south-east horizon. Most stars are visible to low elevation; only the faintest near the ground are affected.
south-south-east - good
No noticeable light pollution to the south-south-east. The sky in this direction is dark to the horizon.
south - good
Dark horizon to the south. Faint stars and extended objects in this direction behave much as they do overhead.
south-south-west - fair
Light glow detectable on the south-south-west horizon. The effect fades quickly with elevation and does not affect overhead work.
south-west - fair
A trace of skyglow near the south-west horizon. Stars are clear throughout this direction except very close to the ground.
west-south-west - marginal
Soft skyglow visible on the west-south-west horizon. Mid-brightness stars survive at low elevation; the faintest do not.
west - poor
The lower west sky is heavily light-polluted. Only the brightest stars stand out near the horizon.
west-north-west - marginal
The west-north-west sky shows a clear glow near the ground. Above about 20 degrees the sky returns to workable.
north-west - marginal
The north-west sky shows a clear glow near the ground. Above about 20 degrees the sky returns to workable.
north-north-west - fair
Faint glow on the north-north-west horizon. Most stars are visible to low elevation; only the faintest near the ground are affected.
zenith - poor
The overhead sky is washed out by artificial light. Constellation patterns are reduced to their brightest members.
-
Cass Township, Iowa
- Direction
- NNW
- Distance (km)
- 46.8
- SQM
- 20.55
- Bortle
- 5
-
Alleman, Iowa
- Direction
- WSW
- Distance (km)
- 22.9
- SQM
- 19.37
- Bortle
- 7
-
Pymosa Township, Iowa
- Direction
- W
- Distance (km)
- 109.8
- SQM
- 20.82
- Bortle
- 4
-
County Road G36, Iowa
- Direction
- E
- Distance (km)
- 168.9
- SQM
- 20.83
- Bortle
- 4