How dark is the sky in Sturgis, MI?

Satellite radiance puts Sturgis in the suburban band. Light dome dominates much of the sky. Only the brightest stars and planets stand out clearly. That's brighter than 73.6% of the 3,206 US cities in this dataset.

Worth remembering: this is satellite radiance, not a ground observation. A true Bortle rating needs a human eye at night, this is the closest large-scale substitute.

The nearest darker sky to Sturgis

The closest place in this dataset with a meaningfully darker sky is Coldwater, MI, roughly 24 miles away in a straight line, rated suburban edge. Road distance will be more.

Coldwater, MI is itself still a measured city, not a designated dark-sky park, this only compares against the 3,206 places this dataset covers.

Sturgis against the rest of the dataset

Sturgis, MI has a population of about 11,030, one of 3,206 US cities of 10,000 or more residents in this dataset. Among all 3,206 cities here, Sturgis ranks 2,349 from darkest to brightest, 1 being the darkest measured.