Guadalajara Stargazing & Astronomy Report

Key Sky Quality Metrics

SQM (mag/arcsec²)

18.14

Bortle class

Class 8 (Class 8)

Darkness Quotient

24%

Dataset

August 2026

City sky

Guadalajara: The Practical Verdict

Guadalajara is a global metropolis located in Jalisco, featuring a dense urban environment. Unfortunately, the stargazing conditions here are poor due to high light pollution, which limits the visibility of faint celestial objects and renders the Milky Way invisible. The primary issue is the overwhelming sky brightness from urban light sources.

Observation from this metropolis is largely confined to bright astronomical objects. The Moon, planets, bright stars, double stars, and solar system events remain visible to observers. However, serious deep-sky observing is impractical, with visual deep-sky targets and meteor showers heavily compromised. Narrowband imaging may yield some results if executed with care.

For significantly improved stargazing, head to El Mentidero in Jalisco, located to the south-west, about 140 km away. This area offers a Bortle 3 sky, markedly enhancing visibility for deep-sky observations.

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

El Mentidero, Jalisco sits about 140 km south west and reaches Bortle 3, roughly 20x darker.

Good dark window

Guadalajara 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 Guadalajara?

No. Guadalajara is a Bortle Class 8 sky with SQM 18.14, 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 Guadalajara?

Guadalajara is Bortle Class 8 (SQM 18.14), a poor city sky for astronomy.

Is Guadalajara good for stargazing?

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

Is Guadalajara good for astrophotography?

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

What can you observe from Guadalajara?

Primary targets from Guadalajara 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 Guadalajara?

The closest meaningfully darker mapped site is Amatlán de Cañas, Nayarit, about 108 km west north west of Guadalajara, reaching Bortle 5.

When is the sky darkest in Guadalajara?

The sky over Guadalajara is darkest around January, December.

Is light pollution in Guadalajara getting better or worse?

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

• Amatlán de Cañas, Nayarit

  Direction

  WNW

  Distance (km)

  108.1

  SQM

  20.68

  Bortle

  5

• San Gabriel, Jalisco

  Direction

  SSW

  Distance (km)

  119.1

  SQM

  20.92

  Bortle

  4

• El Mentidero, Jalisco

  Direction

  SW

  Distance (km)

  140.4

  SQM

  21.39

  Bortle

  3

• Rincón de Calimayo, Nayarit

  Direction

  WNW

  Distance (km)

  153.4

  SQM

  21.34

  Bortle

  3

• Mezquitic de la Magdalena, Jalisco

  Direction

  ENE

  Distance (km)

  116

  SQM

  20.42

  Bortle

  5

• Talpa de Allende, Jalisco

  Direction

  WSW

  Distance (km)

  152.8

  SQM

  21.20

  Bortle

  4