Lima Stargazing & Astronomy Report

Key Sky Quality Metrics

SQM (mag/arcsec²)

17.52

Bortle class

Class 9 (Class 9)

Darkness Quotient

19%

Dataset

May 2026

Inner city sky

Lima: The Practical Verdict

Lima, the capital of Peru, is dominated by the bright lights typical of a major metropolis. This results in severe urban sky conditions, with the Milky Way completely obscured. Such extreme light pollution limits visibility mostly to the brightest celestial bodies.

In these conditions, the Moon, planets, and double stars are the primary targets that pierce the light dome. While narrowband imaging of certain nebulae is possible with caution, broad deep-sky observing is not feasible. The brightest regions towards the south-south-east further challenge viewing conditions.

For serious stargazing, heading south-south-east to Ica, around 260 km away, offers dramatically darker skies. This location is worthwhile for those pursuing detailed deep-sky observations, as the skies there are significantly clearer and the viewing conditions markedly superior.

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

Ica sits about 261 km south south east and reaches Bortle 3, roughly 42x darker.

Good dark window

Lima 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 Lima?

No. Lima is a Bortle Class 9 sky with SQM 17.52, 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 Lima?

Lima is Bortle Class 9 (SQM 17.52), a severe urban sky for astronomy.

Is Lima good for stargazing?

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

Is Lima good for astrophotography?

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

What can you observe from Lima?

Primary targets from Lima 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 Lima?

The closest meaningfully darker mapped site is 9 de Octubre, Lima, about 90 km south south east of Lima, reaching Bortle 6.

When is the sky darkest in Lima?

The sky over Lima is darkest around June, July.

Is light pollution in Lima getting better or worse?

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

• Bellavista, Callao

  Direction

  W

  Distance (km)

  15

  SQM

  18.29

  Bortle

  8

• Huacho, Lima

  Direction

  NNW

  Distance (km)

  97.2

  SQM

  20.41

  Bortle

  5

• 9 de Octubre, Lima

  Direction

  SSE

  Distance (km)

  90

  SQM

  19.98

  Bortle

  6

• Ica

  Direction

  SSE

  Distance (km)

  261.4

  SQM

  21.58

  Bortle

  3