Class | Title | NELM | Approx. SQM[3] mag/arcsec2 | Description |
1 | Excellent dark-sky site | 7.6–8.0 | 21.76 - 22.0 | - the zodiacal light is visible and colorful
- the gegenschein is readily visible
- the zodiacal band is visible
- airglow is readily visible
- the Scorpius and Sagittarius regions of the Milky Way cast obvious shadows
- many constellations, particularly fainter ones, are barely recognizable amid the large number of stars
- many Messier and globular clusters are naked-eye objects
- M33 (the Triangulum Galaxy) is a direct vision naked-eye object
- limiting magnitude with 12.5 in (32 cm) reflector is 17.5 (with effort)
- Venus and Jupiter affect dark adaptation
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2 | Typical truly dark site | 7.1–7.5 | 21.6–21.75 | - the zodiacal light is distinctly yellowish and bright enough to cast shadows at dusk and dawn
- airglow may be weakly visible near horizon
- the gegenschein is visible
- clouds are only visible as dark holes against the sky
- surroundings are barely visible silhouetted against the sky
- the summer Milky Way is highly structured
- many Messier objects and globular clusters are naked-eye objects
- M33 is easily seen with naked eye
- limiting magnitude with 12.5" reflector is 16.5
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3 | Rural sky | 6.6–7.0 | 21.3–21.6 | - the zodiacal light is striking in spring and autumn, and color is still visible
- some light pollution evident at the horizon
- clouds are illuminated near the horizon, dark overhead
- nearer surroundings are vaguely visible
- the summer Milky Way still appears complex
- M15, M4, M5, and M22 are naked-eye objects
- M33 is easily visible with averted vision
- limiting magnitude with 12.5" reflector is 16
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4 | Brighter rural | 6.3–6.5 | 20.8–21.3 | - the zodiacal light is still visible, but does not extend halfway to the zenith at dusk or dawn
- light pollution domes visible in several directions
- clouds are illuminated in the directions of the light sources, dark overhead
- surroundings are clearly visible, even at a distance
- the Milky Way well above the horizon is still impressive, but lacks detail
- M33 is a difficult averted vision object, only visible when high in the sky
- limiting magnitude with 12.5" reflector is 15.5
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4.5 | Semi-Suburban/Transition sky | 6.1–6.3 | 20.3–20.8 | - clouds have a grayish glow at zenith and appear bright in the direction of one or more prominent city light domes
- the Milky Way is only vaguely visible – 10–15 degrees above the horizon. However the Great Rift, when overhead and with good transparency, is still obvious.
- Although the views of bright globular clusters through 10" aperture and larger are striking, the outer regions of galaxies are difficult or impossible to see.
- limiting magnitude with 12.5" reflector is 15.2
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5 | Suburban sky | 5.6–6.0 | 19.25–20.3 | - only hints of zodiacal light are seen on the best nights in autumn and spring
- light pollution is visible in most, if not all, directions
- clouds are noticeably brighter than the sky
- the Milky Way is invisible near the horizon, and looks washed out overhead. The winter Milky Way, even directly overhead, is fairly subtle.
- when it is half moon (first/last quarter) in a dark location the sky appears like this, but with the difference that the sky appears dark blue
- limiting magnitude with 12.5" reflector is 15
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6 | Bright suburban sky | 5.1–5.5 | 18.5–19.25 | - the zodiacal light is invisible
- light pollution makes the sky within 35° of the horizon glow grayish white
- clouds anywhere in the sky appear fairly bright
- even high clouds (cirrus) appear brighter than the sky background
- surroundings are easily visible
- the Milky Way is only visible near the zenith
- M33 is not visible, M31 is modestly apparent
- limiting magnitude with 12.5" reflector is 14.5
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7 | Suburban/urban transition | 4.6–5.0 | 18.00–18.5 | - light pollution makes the entire sky light gray
- strong light sources are evident in all directions
- clouds are brightly lit
- the Milky Way is nearly or totally invisible
- M31 and M44 may be glimpsed, but with no detail
- through a telescope, the brightest Messier objects are pale ghosts of their true selves
- when it is full moon in a dark location the sky appears like this, but with the difference that the sky appears blue
- limiting magnitude with 12.5" reflector is 14
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8 | City sky | 4.1–4.5 | <18.00 | - the sky is light gray or orange – one can easily read
- stars forming familiar constellation patterns may be weak or invisible
- M31 and M44 are barely glimpsed by an experienced observer on good nights
- even with a telescope, only bright Messier objects can be detected
- limiting magnitude with 12.5" reflector is 13
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9 | Inner-city sky | 4.0 | - The sky is brilliantly lit
- many stars forming constellations are invisible and many fainter constellations are invisible
- aside from the Pleiades, no Messier object is visible to the naked eye
- the only objects to observe are the Moon, the planets, bright satellites, and a few of the brightest star clusters
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