Ibadan Stargazing & Astronomy Report

Key Sky Quality Metrics

SQM (mag/arcsec²)

20.21

Bortle class

Class 6 (Class 6)

Darkness Quotient

52%

Dataset

August 2026

Bright suburban sky

Ibadan: The Practical Verdict

Ibadan, a major city in Oyo State, Nigeria, is encumbered with moderate light pollution, typical of large urban areas. The sky here is classified as a limited suburban sky, offering decent views of brighter astronomical objects. The primary limiting factor is the overall brightness of the sky, which obscures more subtle celestial features such as the Milky Way.

Observers in Ibadan can reliably turn their attention to the Moon, planets, double stars, and bright open clusters, which remain visible against the city's glow. Narrowband imaging is also feasible, focusing on bright nebula cores. However, low-surface-brightness objects such as broadband galaxies and reflection nebulae should be avoided due to the omnipresent sky glow.

While there are some opportunities for improvement, the upgrade options nearby only provide modest gains. A trip to the Benin-Sagamu Expressway in Ogun State, about 85 km south-south-east, may offer a slightly darker environment, but there are no dramatically better alternatives within the vicinity.

At a Glance

Overall

Limited suburban sky - This is a limited sky for astronomy. The brightest targets remain accessible, but faint deep-sky observing is heavily compromised.

Milky Way

Not visible - The sky background is generally too bright for a reliable Milky Way view.

Best targets from here

Moon, planets, double stars, bright open clusters, narrowband imaging, bright nebula cores

Do not prioritise

broadband galaxies, reflection nebulae, visual faint nebulae, Milky Way photography

Limited nearby upgrade

Benin-Sagamu Expressway, Ogun State is the strongest nearby option but remains Bortle 4; the improvement is real but modest.

Good dark window

Ibadan 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 Ibadan?

No. Ibadan is a Bortle Class 6 sky with SQM 20.21, 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 Ibadan?

Ibadan is Bortle Class 6 (SQM 20.21), a limited suburban sky for astronomy.

Is Ibadan good for stargazing?

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

Is Ibadan good for astrophotography?

Broadband deep-sky imaging is heavily compromised from Ibadan and a Bortle 4 or darker site is strongly recommended. Narrowband imaging of bright emission nebulae remains viable from Ibadan with appropriate Ha or OIII filters.

What can you observe from Ibadan?

Primary targets from Ibadan include Moon, planets, double stars, bright open clusters, narrowband imaging. Targets such as broadband galaxies, reflection nebulae, visual faint nebulae are not realistic from this sky.

Where are darker skies near Ibadan?

The closest meaningfully darker mapped site is Benin-Sagamu Expressway, Ogun State, about 85 km south south east of Ibadan, reaching Bortle 4.

When is the sky darkest in Ibadan?

The sky over Ibadan is darkest around January, December.

Is light pollution in Ibadan getting better or worse?

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

• Awa, Ogun State

  Direction

  S

  Distance (km)

  45.7

  SQM

  20.78

  Bortle

  5

• Benin-Sagamu Expressway, Ogun State

  Direction

  SSE

  Distance (km)

  84.6

  SQM

  21.16

  Bortle

  4

• Semore, Ogun State

  Direction

  SSW

  Distance (km)

  43.1

  SQM

  20.59

  Bortle

  5