Casablanca Stargazing & Astronomy Report

Key Sky Quality Metrics

SQM (mag/arcsec²)

17.37

Bortle class

Class 9 (Class 9)

Darkness Quotient

18%

Dataset

May 2026

Inner city sky

Casablanca: The Practical Verdict

Casablanca is a major city within the Casablanca-Settat region of Morocco, characterised by its dense urban environment. The severe urban sky creates substantial light pollution, with the brightness significantly limiting the range of celestial objects visible. The sky here generally offers only the brightest targets such as the Moon, planets, and some bright stars.

From this sky, the Milky Way is entirely absent, and the light pollution reduces the visibility of deep-sky objects significantly. Observers should aim for the bright planets or double stars. Narrowband imaging with careful processing might yield results, but broadband galaxy or nebula observations are not viable.

For a modest improvement, heading about 175 km south-south-west to sites like Esbiaat اسبيعات in Marrakech-Safi offers slightly darker skies, though conditions remain challenging for anything less than bright targets.

At a Glance

Overall

Severe urban sky - This is a severely light-polluted urban sky. Only the Moon, planets, bright stars, and a few specialist targets remain practical.

Milky Way

Not visible - The Milky Way is not visible from this sky.

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

Limited nearby upgrade

Esbiaat اسبيعات, Marrakech-Safi is the strongest nearby option but remains Bortle 5; the improvement is real but modest.

Good dark window

Casablanca's longest dark windows fall in December and January, with the shortest nights around June and July. Plan deep-sky sessions around the autumn and winter months for the best combination of long nights and true astronomical darkness.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you see the Milky Way from Casablanca?

No. Casablanca is a Bortle Class 9 sky with SQM 17.37, 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 Casablanca?

Casablanca is Bortle Class 9 (SQM 17.37), a severe urban sky for astronomy.

Is Casablanca good for stargazing?

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

Is Casablanca good for astrophotography?

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

What can you observe from Casablanca?

Primary targets from Casablanca 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 Casablanca?

The closest meaningfully darker mapped site is Sidi Moussa Ben Ali, Casablanca-Settat, about 24 km east of Casablanca, reaching Bortle 7.

When is the sky darkest in Casablanca?

The sky over Casablanca is darkest around January, December.

Is light pollution in Casablanca getting better or worse?

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

• Sidi Moussa Ben Ali, Casablanca-Settat

  Direction

  E

  Distance (km)

  24.2

  SQM

  19.27

  Bortle

  7

• Sidi Abdelkrim, Casablanca-Settat

  Direction

  SE

  Distance (km)

  53.5

  SQM

  19.99

  Bortle

  6

• Ait Malek, Rabat-Salé-Kénitra

  Direction

  ENE

  Distance (km)

  118.8

  SQM

  20.39

  Bortle

  5

• Zaouiat Saiss, Casablanca-Settat

  Direction

  SW

  Distance (km)

  120.3

  SQM

  19.95

  Bortle

  6

• Esbiaat اسبيعات, Marrakech-Safi

  Direction

  SSW

  Distance (km)

  176.6

  SQM

  20.75

  Bortle

  5