Guadalajara Stargazing & Astronomy Report

Key Sky Quality Metrics

SQM (mag/arcsec²)

18.18

Bortle class

Class 8 (Class 8)

Darkness Quotient

24%

Dataset

July 2026

City sky

Guadalajara: The Practical Verdict

Guadalajara, a global metropolis in Jalisco, suffers from high light pollution that severely limits its astronomical offerings. The city's sky is categorised as a poor venue for stargazing, with bright urban light making most astronomical observations challenging. The predominant obstacle is the overpowering brightness resulting in a barely visible sky, rendering any Milky Way views impossible.

From within the city's light haze, ambitious observers can target the Moon, planets, and bright stars, which remain the most reliable. While narrowband imaging with caution might make the brightest nebulae attainable, deep-sky objects should largely be avoided. Efforts to observe the widefield wonders of the galaxy or faint nebulae will only invite disappointment.

For those seeking meaningful stargazing, a trip to Francisco I. Madero, Zacatecas, located north and a longer drive away, offers a significant improvement. This site provides a darker Bortle 3 sky, which is far more conducive to deeper astronomical exploration.

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

Francisco I. Madero, Zacatecas sits about 148 km north 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 18.18, 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 18.18), 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 Acatic, Jalisco, about 51 km east 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?

There is not yet enough long-term data to give a confident trend for Guadalajara.

• Acatic, Jalisco

  Direction

  E

  Distance (km)

  51.3

  SQM

  20.38

  Bortle

  5

• Rancho Apulco, Zacatecas

  Direction

  NE

  Distance (km)

  114.7

  SQM

  20.73

  Bortle

  5

• Mascota, Jalisco

  Direction

  WSW

  Distance (km)

  140

  SQM

  21.27

  Bortle

  4

• Francisco I. Madero, Zacatecas

  Direction

  N

  Distance (km)

  147.5

  SQM

  21.43

  Bortle

  3

• Tetitlán, Nayarit

  Direction

  WNW

  Distance (km)

  140.7

  SQM

  21.24

  Bortle

  4

• El Chante, Jalisco

  Direction

  SW

  Distance (km)

  140.4

  SQM

  20.82

  Bortle

  4