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You are listening to Adorama Narrated a collection of our favorite blog posts presented in audio format by Light Pollution how to find your next Night sky photography Location Written by Liz Masoner Published on April 13, 2026 Night Sky Photography and astrophotography make great getaways from the city Light pollution gets worse every year, but there are still places where you can see many stars within an hour or two of most locations. Noctourism is rising, so more dark sky places are offering overnight accommodations as well. Finding the perfect spot for night sky photography means looking for a great field of view, avoiding light pollution, and picking the right time to go. I'll help you find the clearest views with minimal light pollution for your next night sky photography outing. How dark is dark enough for night sky photos? The Bortle Scale before you get started with night sky photography, you need to know about the Bortle Scale. Much of how dark is dark enough depends on what you want to photograph. For example, the Moon usually only requires a short trip out of even the biggest cities. However, for stars, planets, and the Milky Way, you'll need to head for less populated areas and even avoid the Moon. In many cases. Skylight levels and light pollution are often visualized using the Bortle Scale. How the Bortle Scale Works the Bortle Scale estimates the light pollution in an area and measures it in nine levels. Class nine is the worst and common in large cities where the sky is washed out and the Moon might not even be visible. Class one is a dark sky location with little to no light pollution and the sky is awash with stars. What you can see at each Bortle Scale level Bortle Scale Summary Class 9 An area typical of Class 9 is inner city. The faintest magnitude visible on moonless clear night is less than 4.0. Class 8A City the faintest magnitude visible 4.1 to 4.5. Class 7 Urban or Suburban Transition the faintest magnitude visible is 4.6 to 5.0. Class 6 Bright Suburban the faintest magnitude visible is 5.1 to 5.5. After Class 6, the Milky Way begins to become visible. Class V or suburban can show 5.6 to 6.0 magnitude. Class 4 suburban to rural transition shows 6.1 to 6.5. After Class 4, clusters M15, M4, M5 and M22 are becoming visible. Class 3 rural faintest magnitude visible is 6.6 to 7.0. After Class 3, zodiacal light increases. Class 2 typical dark sky shows a faintest magnitude of 7.1 to 7.5. After Class 2, the Milky Way becomes structured and detailed. Class 1 is an excellent dark sky with the faintest magnitude visible of 7.6 or greater. Note that small cities may score more like suburban areas if isolated and rural farmland could score higher like suburban areas if in close proximity to large cities Finding a night sky photo location. You're not alone in hunting a great night sky viewpoint. Besides, photographers, stargazers and astronomy buffs are all interested in those same views. Dark sky parks, astronomy club events, state and federal parks, and private groups offer great access to the night sky. What to look for in a night sky photography location Picking a spot with a wide field of view and as few obstacles as possible makes night sky photography much easier. Often this means looking for open fields, scenic mountain overlooks, or lakes where there is little between you and the horizon. Here is my checklist for finding a great night photo darkness rating Unless I am photographing the moon, then I typically aim for no more than Bortle 3 or 4. Astrophotography apps and programs such as Light Pollution Map help you estimate light levels. Big Sky I look for places with wide views of the night sky and horizon. I also look at which direction the view is facing. Google Maps Street View is a big help for previewing locations publicly accessible. Sometimes even public lands have restrictions. For example, state parks often close at sundown unless you are camping. Travel time Unless I'm staying overnight, I look for sites within a two hour one way drive. Safety Safety usually means preparing ahead. I look for sites where help is readily accessible or at least where there is cell phone service. I also want terrain that isn't overly hazardous. Steep slopes are easy to miss at night. Plus I keep major wildlife dangers in mind. For example, I live in alligator country so I don't shoot in their habitat at night. In the summer, I also take a friend with me when shooting at night. Popular Night sky photo locations Astronomy organizations like Dark sky work to encourage low light locations and certify areas with public access to help you find places to view the night sky. Some popular public land locations to photograph the night sky with minimal light pollution include Big Bend National park in Texas at Bortle 1 Grand Canyon National park in Arizona Bortle 1 Yellowstone National park in Wyoming Bortle 1 or 2 Yosemite National park in California Bortle 1AMC Maine Woods International Dark Sky park in Maine Bortle 2 Arches National park in Utah Bortle 2 Stephen C. Foster State park in Georgia Bortle 2 or 3 Voyageurs National park in Minnesota Bortle 2 Cape Lookout National Seashore in North Carolina Bortle 3 Cherry Springs State park in Pennsylvania Bortle 3 Staunton River State park in Virginia Bortle 4 Scout Ahead Once I've narrowed down a potential location, I scout in daytime whenever possible. Looking at a site in the daytime helps you more easily identify potential hazards. It's also much easier to spot obstructions to your view, plan tripod setup locations and note safety concerns in full light. Timing matters Planning your star photography trip what you want to shoot and your location dictate when and where you go. For example, the Milky Way Galaxy Core is seen at different times in different seasons. In the spring it's seen in the US in the early hours before dawn, and in summer or fall it's seen just after sunset. Sights like Stellarium can help you visualize the night sky to plan outings. When planning your astrophotography trip, keep in mind Moon rise and set times Moon phase When the stars or planets you are targeting rise and set what portion of the sky needs to be visible to see your targeted objects and will the sky be clear or full of clouds? Apps like Clear Sky, Dark sky give forecasts and near real time cloud data. What camera gear do you need for night sky photography? Once you've found your night sky location, be sure to have the right gear. It's fine to start small and work up as your skills increase. The more comfortable you are with your astrophotography camera settings, the more you'll be ready to move up to more advanced gear. An entry level DSLR or mirrorless camera capable of exposures of at least 6 seconds and a tripod such as a 3 pod Everest T5.4 section carbon fiber tripod will get you started later. You can add a star tracker to allow longer exposures, a telescope, and a telescope adapter or T ring to attach your camera body to the telescope for deep sky photos. Prepare for your first Milky Way shoot with these tips from Austin James Jackson See the video with the tips from Austin James Jackson on how to capture the Milky Way perfectly in the blog post. This has been by Light Pollution how to find your next night sky photography location Written by Liz Masoner Read for you by Nikki Haller for more posts like this, check out the 42 west blog at adorama.com blog links are in the show notes. 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