Lakewood Stargazing & Astronomy Report

Key Sky Quality Metrics

SQM (mag/arcsec²)

18.69

Bortle class

Class 8 (Class 8)

Darkness Quotient

30%

Dataset

April 2026

City sky

Lakewood: The Practical Verdict

Lakewood, a small city in suburban Colorado, sits under a heavily light-polluted sky. Astronomical observations are significantly hindered, with only the brightest celestial objects dominating the view. The Milky Way is entirely absent due to the urban light dome contributed by this city and nearby Denver.

From this location, an observer can enjoy viewing the Moon, planets, and prominent double stars, while less luminous targets like faint nebulae and Milky Way objects are unobservable. Narrowband imaging can offer some rewards but with careful post-processing to mitigate the effects of light pollution.

For those seeking darker skies, Kinikin Heights in south-west Colorado, roughly 280 km away, provides a substantial improvement, with conditions suitable for deep-sky observations.

At a Glance

Overall

Poor city sky - This is a poor city sky. The Milky Way is not visible and most deep-sky observing is unrealistic from the location itself.

Milky Way

Not visible - The Milky Way is erased by the bright urban sky background.

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

Kinikin Heights, Colorado sits about 278 km south west and reaches Bortle 3, roughly 15x darker.

Good dark window

Lakewood'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 Lakewood?

No. Lakewood is a Bortle Class 8 sky with SQM 18.69, 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 Lakewood?

Lakewood is Bortle Class 8 (SQM 18.69), a poor city sky for astronomy.

Is Lakewood good for stargazing?

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

Is Lakewood good for astrophotography?

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

What can you observe from Lakewood?

Primary targets from Lakewood 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 Lakewood?

The closest meaningfully darker mapped site is County Road 20, Colorado, about 54 km north north east of Lakewood, reaching Bortle 6.

When is the sky darkest in Lakewood?

The sky over Lakewood is darkest around January, December.

Is light pollution in Lakewood getting better or worse?

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

• County Road 20, Colorado

  Direction

  NNE

  Distance (km)

  54.2

  SQM

  19.96

  Bortle

  6

• Gore Creek Trail, Colorado

  Direction

  W

  Distance (km)

  92.2

  SQM

  20.27

  Bortle

  6

• Kinikin Heights, Colorado

  Direction

  SW

  Distance (km)

  278.3

  SQM

  21.61

  Bortle

  3