Casablanca Stargazing & Astronomy Report

Key Sky Quality Metrics

SQM (mag/arcsec²)

17.45

Bortle class

Class 9 (Class 9)

Darkness Quotient

19%

Dataset

August 2026

Inner city sky

Casablanca: The Practical Verdict

Casablanca, a major city in Morocco, is characterised by its severe urban sky conditions. The sky's brightness severely limits deep-sky observations, categorising it under extreme light pollution. The primary limiting factor here is the intense light dome primarily affected by the urban density.

Prominent targets include the Moon, planets, bright stars, and double stars, while solar system events are also easily observable. For dedicated astronomers, narrowband imaging works best, although it is essential to approach with care. The Milky Way is simply not visible from Casablanca's inner city sky.

For observers seeking darker skies, Majjat, south of Casablanca, offers a significant improvement with Bortle 4 conditions. At approximately 255 km to the south-south-west, it is well worth the effort for more serious deep-sky observing.

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

Best nearby upgrade

Majjat, Marrakech-Safi sits about 253 km south south west and reaches Bortle 4, roughly 27x darker.

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 17.45, 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 17.45), 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 Riyah, Casablanca-Settat, about 51 km south south 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.

• 72 km SE

  Direction

  SE

  Distance (km)

  71.9

  SQM

  20.49

  Bortle

  5

• Riyah, Casablanca-Settat

  Direction

  SSE

  Distance (km)

  50.7

  SQM

  19.51

  Bortle

  7

• Roches-Noires, Casablanca-Settat

  Direction

  ENE

  Distance (km)

  5

  SQM

  18.18

  Bortle

  8

• Oulad Ghanem, Casablanca-Settat

  Direction

  SW

  Distance (km)

  146

  SQM

  20.58

  Bortle

  5

• Sidi Allal Lamsadder, Rabat-Salé-Kénitra

  Direction

  ENE

  Distance (km)

  131.4

  SQM

  20.18

  Bortle

  6

• Majjat, Marrakech-Safi

  Direction

  SSW

  Distance (km)

  253.4

  SQM

  21.02

  Bortle

  4