Belém Stargazing & Astronomy Report

Key Sky Quality Metrics

SQM (mag/arcsec²)

18.30

Bortle class

Class 8 (Class 8)

Darkness Quotient

26%

Dataset

May 2026

City sky

Belém: The Practical Verdict

Belém is a major city located in Pará, Brazil. The city sky is unfortunately characterised by high light pollution, making it a poor place for clear stargazing. The primary limiting factor is the bright urban sky that obscures the Milky Way completely.

Observers can focus on the Moon, planets, and bright stars, which cut through the light pollution. Double stars and solar system events are also accessible, but visual deep-sky observations are not practical from within the city. Narrowband imaging is possible, but attention must be paid to mitigate the effects of the sky background.

For those seeking better conditions, Soure, Pará offers a significant upgrade in sky quality. Located approximately 110 km to the north north-west, it presents a Bortle 2 environment, which is vastly superior for serious deep-sky work.

At a Glance

Overall

Poor city sky - This is a poor city sky. The Milky Way is not visible and most deep-sky observing is unrealistic from the location itself.

Milky Way

Not visible - The Milky Way is erased by the bright urban sky background.

Best targets from here

Moon, planets, bright stars, double stars, solar system events, narrowband imaging only with care

Do not prioritise

visual deep-sky observing, broadband galaxies, reflection nebulae, widefield Milky Way

Best nearby upgrade

Soure, Pará sits about 108 km north north west and reaches Bortle 2, roughly 24x darker.

Good dark window

Belém retains astronomical darkness throughout the year, so seasonality is less extreme than at higher latitudes. The main limitation is light pollution, not the length of the dark window.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you see the Milky Way from Belém?

No. Belém is a Bortle Class 8 sky with SQM 18.30, so the Milky Way is not visible from the city. For Milky Way photography, look for a Bortle 4 or darker site.

What Bortle class is Belém?

Belém is Bortle Class 8 (SQM 18.30), a poor city sky for astronomy.

Is Belém good for stargazing?

Not for serious deep-sky observing. Belém is a poor city sky where the Moon, planets, and a handful of bright targets are the realistic options from the city itself.

Is Belém good for astrophotography?

Broadband deep-sky imaging is heavily compromised from Belém and a Bortle 4 or darker site is strongly recommended. Even narrowband imaging is difficult from Belém without careful processing.

What can you observe from Belém?

Primary targets from Belém include Moon, planets, bright stars, double stars, solar system events. Targets such as visual deep-sky observing, broadband galaxies, reflection nebulae are not realistic from this sky.

Where are darker skies near Belém?

The closest meaningfully darker mapped site is Barcarena, Pará, about 15 km west north west of Belém, reaching Bortle 5.

When is the sky darkest in Belém?

The sky over Belém is darkest around April, September.

Is light pollution in Belém getting better or worse?

Long-term light pollution over Belém has been broadly stable across the available measurements.

• Barcarena, Pará

  Direction

  WNW

  Distance (km)

  15

  SQM

  20.43

  Bortle

  5

• Abaetetuba, Pará

  Direction

  WSW

  Distance (km)

  61.9

  SQM

  20.98

  Bortle

  4

• Soure, Pará

  Direction

  S

  Distance (km)

  102.3

  SQM

  21.60

  Bortle

  3

• Soure, Pará

  Direction

  NNW

  Distance (km)

  107.7

  SQM

  21.73

  Bortle

  2

• Tuja, Pará

  Direction

  NNE

  Distance (km)

  76.7

  SQM

  20.20

  Bortle

  6

• Seringal, Pará

  Direction

  ENE

  Distance (km)

  128.9

  SQM

  21.01

  Bortle

  4