Springfield Stargazing & Astronomy Report
Light pollution and stargazing locations near Springfield
- City
- Springfield
- Country
- United States
- Latitude
- 37.2090
- Longitude
- -93.2923
Key Sky Quality Metrics
- SQM (mag/arcsec²)
- 17.92
- Bortle class
- Class 9 (Class 9)
- Darkness Quotient
- 22%
- Dataset
- April 2026
Inner city sky
Springfield: The Practical Verdict
Springfield, located in Missouri, is a mid-size city with significant light pollution typical of urban environments. The sky here is heavily affected by artificial lighting, rendering it far from ideal for deep-sky observation. Most celestial features appear muted or entirely obscured due to the city's brightness.
From this location, focus on observing brighter celestial objects such as the Moon, planets, double stars, and certain solar system events. Unfortunately, the Milky Way is not visible under Springfield's conditions, and visual or photographic deep-sky work is greatly limited by the sky brightness.
For stargazers seeking improved conditions, travelling to Belview, Arkansas, located roughly 175 km to the south-east, offers Bortle 4 skies, suitable for more serious deep-sky astronomy and much clearer views of the night sky.
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
- Belview, Arkansas sits about 175 km south east and reaches Bortle 4, roughly 21x darker.
- Good dark window
- Springfield'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 Springfield?
No. Springfield is a Bortle Class 9 sky with SQM 17.92, 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 Springfield?
Springfield is Bortle Class 9 (SQM 17.92), a severe urban sky for astronomy.
Is Springfield good for stargazing?
Not for serious deep-sky observing. Springfield is a severe urban sky where the Moon, planets, and a handful of bright targets are the realistic options from the city itself.
Is Springfield good for astrophotography?
Broadband deep-sky imaging is heavily compromised from Springfield and a Bortle 4 or darker site is strongly recommended. Even narrowband imaging is difficult from Springfield without careful processing.
What can you observe from Springfield?
Primary targets from Springfield 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 Springfield?
The closest meaningfully darker mapped site is County Road H-184.4, Missouri, about 49 km north north east of Springfield, reaching Bortle 5.
When is the sky darkest in Springfield?
The sky over Springfield is darkest around January, December.
Is light pollution in Springfield getting better or worse?
Long-term light pollution over Springfield has been broadly stable across the available measurements.
north - good
The north sky is dark to the horizon. Faint targets are accessible at all elevations here.
north-north-east - good
Dark sky in the north-north-east direction with no obvious skyglow. Suitable for faint-object work at low elevation.
north-east - good
Dark sky in the north-east direction with no obvious skyglow. Suitable for faint-object work at low elevation.
east-north-east - fair
Faint glow on the east-north-east horizon. Most stars are visible to low elevation; only the faintest near the ground are affected.
east - good
The east horizon is dark. Faint stars are visible close to the ground.
east-south-east - good
No noticeable light pollution to the east-south-east. The sky in this direction is dark to the horizon.
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 - fair
A trace of skyglow near the south-south-east horizon. Stars are clear throughout this direction except very close to the ground.
south - fair
The south sky is broadly dark with a small amount of glow at the horizon. Most objects in this direction are accessible.
south-south-west - good
Dark sky in the south-south-west direction with no obvious skyglow. Suitable for faint-object work at low elevation.
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 - fair
Light glow detectable on the west-south-west horizon. The effect fades quickly with elevation and does not affect overhead work.
west - good
The west sky is dark to the horizon. Faint targets are accessible at all elevations here.
west-north-west - good
The west-north-west sky is dark to the horizon. Faint targets are accessible at all elevations here.
north-west - good
No noticeable light pollution to the north-west. The sky in this direction is dark to the horizon.
north-north-west - good
No noticeable light pollution to the north-north-west. The sky in this direction is dark to the horizon.
zenith - poor
The overhead sky is washed out by artificial light. Constellation patterns are reduced to their brightest members.
-
County Road H-184.4, Missouri
- Direction
- NNE
- Distance (km)
- 48.8
- SQM
- 20.46
- Bortle
- 5
-
Homer, Missouri
- Direction
- S
- Distance (km)
- 75.3
- SQM
- 20.54
- Bortle
- 5
-
Sugar Ridge, Missouri
- Direction
- SW
- Distance (km)
- 101.2
- SQM
- 20.54
- Bortle
- 5
-
Belview, Arkansas
- Direction
- SE
- Distance (km)
- 174.7
- SQM
- 21.25
- Bortle
- 4
-
Lone Pine, Arkansas
- Direction
- SSE
- Distance (km)
- 155
- SQM
- 20.49
- Bortle
- 5