Jackson Stargazing & Astronomy Report

Key Sky Quality Metrics

SQM (mag/arcsec²)

17.56

Bortle class

Class 9 (Class 9)

Darkness Quotient

19%

Dataset

April 2026

Inner city sky

Jackson: The Practical Verdict

Jackson, a mid-sized city located in Mississippi, encounters difficulties for stargazing due to severe light pollution. The sky here is classified as having extreme light pollution, with no visibility of the Milky Way, making it unsuitable for faint deep-sky objects.

From this location, only bright celestial objects like planets, the Moon, and double stars are easily observable. Narrowband imaging can be attempted, but deep-sky imaging and visual observing of fainter objects are highly limited by urban sky brightness. The clearest view is towards the south, while the north-north-east is much brighter.

For those seeking truly dark skies, travelling to Holcomb, Mississippi, approximately 165 km to the north, offers a notable improvement. This location provides a Bortle 4 sky ideal for broader stargazing interests and improved astrophotography opportunities.

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

Holcomb, Mississippi sits about 163 km north and reaches Bortle 4, roughly 29x darker.

Good dark window

Jackson'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 Jackson?

No. Jackson is a Bortle Class 9 sky with SQM 17.56, 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 Jackson?

Jackson is Bortle Class 9 (SQM 17.56), a severe urban sky for astronomy.

Is Jackson good for stargazing?

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

Is Jackson good for astrophotography?

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

What can you observe from Jackson?

Primary targets from Jackson 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 Jackson?

The closest meaningfully darker mapped site is Charlton, Mississippi, about 33 km east of Jackson, reaching Bortle 7.

When is the sky darkest in Jackson?

The sky over Jackson is darkest around January, December.

Is light pollution in Jackson getting better or worse?

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

• Morton, Mississippi

  Direction

  E

  Distance (km)

  46.2

  SQM

  20.08

  Bortle

  6

• Charlton, Mississippi

  Direction

  E

  Distance (km)

  33.3

  SQM

  19.41

  Bortle

  7

• Antioch, Mississippi

  Direction

  SE

  Distance (km)

  130

  SQM

  20.94

  Bortle

  4

• Marion County, Mississippi

  Direction

  SSE

  Distance (km)

  134.1

  SQM

  20.73

  Bortle

  5

• Choctaw County, Mississippi

  Direction

  NE

  Distance (km)

  152.5

  SQM

  20.98

  Bortle

  4

• Holcomb, Mississippi

  Direction

  N

  Distance (km)

  162.6

  SQM

  21.20

  Bortle

  4