Stargazing
Stargazing in Billings
Billings has an estimated Bortle class of 6. See what that means for the stars and the Milky Way, plus whether tonight is worth going out.
Stargazing tonight in Billings
Fair — the brighter objects will show
Based on light pollution and the Moon. Add cloud cover for tonight's outlook.
The Milky Way from {city}
From Billings the bright galactic core climbs to about 15.2° above the horizon at its best. Under this sky the Milky Way is not visible from the city itself.
The core is best from late spring to early autumn (roughly May to September in the northern hemisphere); in winter the Milky Way is dim and low.
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Getting the best from the sky over Billings
With an estimated Bortle 6 sky, Billings shows its brightest stars, planets and the Moon well, but faint stars and deep-sky objects are lost to skyglow. Binoculars help a lot: they cut through light pollution better than the naked eye and reveal star clusters, the Moon's craters and the moons of Jupiter.
To see more, the single best move is distance. Even a short drive to darker surroundings transforms the view; check the moon phase too, since a bright Moon washes out the sky as effectively as city lights. New moon on a clear night, away from town, is when the Milky Way appears.
This rating estimates conditions at the centre of Billings. Skies get darker quickly as you leave the built-up area, so treat it as a starting point, not the limit of what's nearby.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Bortle class of Billings?
Billings has an estimated Bortle class of 6 (Bright suburban sky). This describes the light pollution at the city centre; darker skies are usually within a short drive.
Can you see the Milky Way from Billings?
Not from the city centre — Billings's skyglow hides the Milky Way. You'll need to travel to a darker location, ideally around new moon, to see it.
What is the best night for stargazing?
A clear night around the new moon, well away from artificial light. The Moon is the biggest natural source of skyglow, so the darkest, most star-filled skies come when it is below the horizon.