Guatemala City Stargazing & Astronomy Report

Key Sky Quality Metrics

SQM (mag/arcsec²)

18.42

Bortle class

Class 8 (Class 8)

Darkness Quotient

27%

Dataset

April 2026

City sky

Guatemala City: The Practical Verdict

Guatemala City, as a major metropolitan area, experiences significant light pollution. Rated as having a poor city sky (Bortle 8), this location is not conducive to deep-sky or Milky Way observation, as the night sky remains too bright for such detail.

From this urban setting, astronomical activities are best limited to viewing the Moon, bright planets, and double stars. Some effort can be made towards imaging in narrowband filters, though broadband astrophotography will largely be compromised by gradient issues. Serious stargazing enthusiasts will find the selection of observable phenomena much reduced here compared to darker locations.

For a substantial improvement, consider heading to Changkay, Alta Verapaz, which is around 100 km to the north-north-east. This site offers a much darker sky (Bortle 3), making it a worthwhile option for deep-sky observation and Milky Way enthusiasts.

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

Changkay, Alta Verapaz sits about 100 km north north east and reaches Bortle 3, roughly 16x darker.

Good dark window

Guatemala City 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 Guatemala City?

No. Guatemala City 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 Guatemala City?

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

Is Guatemala City good for stargazing?

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

Is Guatemala City good for astrophotography?

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

What can you observe from Guatemala City?

Primary targets from Guatemala City 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 Guatemala City?

The closest meaningfully darker mapped site is Los Ruches, Guatemala Department, about 8 km south east of Guatemala City, reaching Bortle 7.

When is the sky darkest in Guatemala City?

The sky over Guatemala City is darkest around January, December.

Is light pollution in Guatemala City getting better or worse?

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

• Los Ruches, Guatemala Department

  Direction

  SE

  Distance (km)

  7.5

  SQM

  19.58

  Bortle

  7

• Jalapa

  Direction

  ESE

  Distance (km)

  54.4

  SQM

  21.02

  Bortle

  4

• El Tobón, Jalapa

  Direction

  ENE

  Distance (km)

  66.3

  SQM

  20.86

  Bortle

  4

• Sololá, Quiché

  Direction

  WNW

  Distance (km)

  76.4

  SQM

  20.69

  Bortle

  5

• Changkay, Alta Verapaz

  Direction

  NNE

  Distance (km)

  99.7

  SQM

  21.40

  Bortle

  3

• Valle Nuevo, Jutiapa

  Direction

  SE

  Distance (km)

  90

  SQM

  20.84

  Bortle

  4