<p>The biggest factor defining the minimum distance is light pollution from the particular city you are talking about. You can find light pollution maps <a href="http://www.lightpollutionmap.info/#zoom=4&amp;lat=5759860&amp;lon=1619364&amp;layers=B0TFFFFTT" rel="nofollow noreferrer">here</a> and <a href="http://darksitefinder.com/maps/world.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">here</a>. You can also find charts <a href="http://www.cleardarksky.com/csk/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">here</a> that describe the quality of viewing based on a combination of cloud cover, haze, turbulence and wind, temperature, light pollution, and other factors. They look like this:</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/lhfaW.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/lhfaW.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-10-25T10:45:58.663Z
2015-10-25T10:45:58.663Z
Brian Lynch
<p>The premise is certainly true. An exact distance isn't possible to determine since it would depend on how much light pollution is coming from the city, and how much haze (water droplets and particulates) is in the air. You could also be a "short" distance away but on a mountain with much greater elevation than the city. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-10-25T08:33:17.930Z
2015-10-25T08:33:17.930Z
MaxW
<p>The light pollution fades the starlight coming from the Sky and this dont let people to see the Milky Way disc. Is there any study about this?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-10-25T19:15:04.110Z
Light pollution varies per city. You'll have to specify a metropolitan area.
HDE 226868
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-10-27T18:29:28.713Z
Drive about 1 hour away from the city and light pollution will get a lot better. Even a 30 minutes drive at freeway speeds, counting from the outer edge of the city, will give you a much darker sky. Of course, don't drive towards another city nearby, as that would be pointless. :)
Florin Andrei
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-10-28T00:36:46.310Z
10 miles, straight up, would vastly improve the seeing, wherever you are.
Wayfaring Stranger
<milky-way>
What is the minimum distance from city that allow to see Milky Way plane?
Vinicius L. Beserra
# What is the minimum distance from city that allow to see Milky Way plane?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-10-25)

The light pollution fades the starlight coming from the Sky and this dont let people to see the Milky Way disc. Is there any study about this?

**Tags:** milky-way

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Light pollution varies per city. You'll have to specify a metropolitan area.  
> **username_2**: Drive about 1 hour away from the city and light pollution will get a lot better. Even a 30 minutes drive at freeway speeds, counting from the outer edge of the city, will give you a much darker sky. Of course, don't drive towards another city nearby, as that would be pointless. :)  
> **username_3**: 10 miles, straight up, would vastly improve the seeing, wherever you are.  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2015-10-25. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

The biggest factor defining the minimum distance is light pollution from the particular city you are talking about. You can find light pollution maps [here](http://www.lightpollutionmap.info/#zoom=4&lat=5759860&lon=1619364&layers=B0TFFFFTT) and [here](http://darksitefinder.com/maps/world.html). You can also find charts [here](http://www.cleardarksky.com/csk/) that describe the quality of viewing based on a combination of cloud cover, haze, turbulence and wind, temperature, light pollution, and other factors. They look like this:

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/lhfaW.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/lhfaW.png)


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### Answer by username_5 on 2015-10-25. Score: 2

The premise is certainly true. An exact distance isn't possible to determine since it would depend on how much light pollution is coming from the city, and how much haze (water droplets and particulates) is in the air. You could also be a "short" distance away but on a mountain with much greater elevation than the city.


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