Cali Stargazing & Astronomy Report

Key Sky Quality Metrics

SQM (mag/arcsec²)

18.42

Bortle class

Class 8 (Class 8)

Darkness Quotient

27%

Dataset

May 2026

City sky

Cali: The Practical Verdict

Cali is a major urban centre in Valle del Cauca, Colombia, with a dense city setting. Overall, the stargazing quality here is poor due to high levels of light pollution typical of such a large city. This results in the Milky Way being completely invisible, which is a significant limitation for deep-sky observers.

In the bright urban sky of Cali, observing targets are largely limited to the Moon, planets, bright stars, and double stars. Narrowband imaging is possible but requires careful attention to minimise the effects of the light-polluted background. Visual observing of deep-sky objects or wide-field views of the Milky Way are largely out of reach.

For a more rewarding experience, consider the darker skies available at Buenaventura, about 120 km north-west, which offers a dramatic improvement in conditions for serious astronomical pursuits.

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

Buenaventura, Valle del Cauca sits about 119 km north west and reaches Bortle 2, roughly 22x darker.

Good dark window

Cali 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 Cali?

No. Cali is a Bortle Class 8 sky with SQM 18.42, 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 Cali?

Cali is Bortle Class 8 (SQM 18.42), a poor city sky for astronomy.

Is Cali good for stargazing?

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

Is Cali good for astrophotography?

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

What can you observe from Cali?

Primary targets from Cali 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 Cali?

The closest meaningfully darker mapped site is Buenaventura, Valle del Cauca, about 51 km west of Cali, reaching Bortle 4.

When is the sky darkest in Cali?

The sky over Cali is darkest around March, October.

Is light pollution in Cali getting better or worse?

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

• Buenaventura, Valle del Cauca

  Direction

  W

  Distance (km)

  50.6

  SQM

  21.10

  Bortle

  4

• Buenaventura, Valle del Cauca

  Direction

  NW

  Distance (km)

  61.4

  SQM

  21.19

  Bortle

  4

• San Bartolomé, Cauca

  Direction

  WSW

  Distance (km)

  81.8

  SQM

  21.57

  Bortle

  3

• Buenaventura, Valle del Cauca

  Direction

  NW

  Distance (km)

  118.8

  SQM

  21.77

  Bortle

  2

• Davis - Janeiro, Tolima

  Direction

  ENE

  Distance (km)

  101.5

  SQM

  21.11

  Bortle

  4

• Olaya Herrera (Bocas de Satinga), Nariño

  Direction

  WSW

  Distance (km)

  222.4

  SQM

  21.83

  Bortle

  2