Savannah Stargazing & Astronomy Report

Key Sky Quality Metrics

SQM (mag/arcsec²)

17.88

Bortle class

Class 9 (Class 9)

Darkness Quotient

22%

Dataset

April 2026

Inner city sky

Savannah: The Practical Verdict

Savannah is a mid-sized city in Georgia with extensive urban lighting. The sky here is classified as Bortle 9, indicating severe urban light pollution. Observing possibilities are heavily limited to the brightest celestial objects.

Visibility is dominated by the Moon, major planets, and steady bright stars. Narrowband imaging is possible on targeted objects, but broadband imaging and faint deep-sky observation are ineffective due to the overwhelming sky brightness. The Milky Way is completely absent from view.

For a modest improvement in conditions, nearby sites offer slightly lower light pollution. The closest listed upgrade is Chatham County, south of the city, featuring skies of Bortle 5 quality, though this remains far from ideal for deeper observations.

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

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

Good dark window

Savannah'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 Savannah?

No. Savannah is a Bortle Class 9 sky with SQM 17.88, 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 Savannah?

Savannah is Bortle Class 9 (SQM 17.88), a severe urban sky for astronomy.

Is Savannah good for stargazing?

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

Is Savannah good for astrophotography?

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

What can you observe from Savannah?

Primary targets from Savannah 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 Savannah?

The closest meaningfully darker mapped site is Bluffton, South Carolina, about 17 km east north east of Savannah, reaching Bortle 6.

When is the sky darkest in Savannah?

The sky over Savannah is darkest around January, December.

Is light pollution in Savannah getting better or worse?

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

• Bluffton, South Carolina

  Direction

  ENE

  Distance (km)

  16.9

  SQM

  19.87

  Bortle

  6

• Chatham County, Georgia

  Direction

  S

  Distance (km)

  36.5

  SQM

  20.64

  Bortle

  5

• Wilmington Island, Georgia

  Direction

  SE

  Distance (km)

  17.4

  SQM

  19.63

  Bortle

  6

• Richmond Hill, Georgia

  Direction

  SW

  Distance (km)

  26.8

  SQM

  19.66

  Bortle

  6

• Beaufort County, South Carolina

  Direction

  ENE

  Distance (km)

  51.4

  SQM

  20.43

  Bortle

  5

• Wiggins, South Carolina

  Direction

  NE

  Distance (km)

  77.4

  SQM

  20.46

  Bortle

  5