Lisbon Stargazing & Astronomy Report

Key Sky Quality Metrics

SQM (mag/arcsec²)

17.37

Bortle class

Class 9 (Class 9)

Darkness Quotient

18%

Dataset

May 2026

Inner city sky

Lisbon: The Practical Verdict

Lisbon, the capital city of Portugal, suffers from extreme light pollution. This leads to a severe urban sky where the Milky Way is unfortunately not visible at all. The dominating brightness from urban sources is significant enough to obscure fainter celestial objects.

In these conditions, focusing on brighter targets is wise. The Moon, planets, and double stars can still shine through Lisbon's sky, whereas deep-sky observing is highly challenging. Narrowband imaging remains possible, but attempts at broadband deep-sky imaging will encounter strong light gradients.

For more dedicated observation sessions, consider travelling to Seladas, located to the south-south-east of Lisbon, about 145 km away. It offers notably darker skies, making it a worthwhile destination for those in search of clearer views of the cosmos.

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

Seladas sits about 147 km south south east and reaches Bortle 4, roughly 24x darker.

Good dark window

Lisbon's longest dark windows fall in December and January, with the shortest nights around June and July. Plan deep-sky sessions around the autumn and winter months for the best combination of long nights and true astronomical darkness.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you see the Milky Way from Lisbon?

No. Lisbon is a Bortle Class 9 sky with SQM 17.37, 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 Lisbon?

Lisbon is Bortle Class 9 (SQM 17.37), a severe urban sky for astronomy.

Is Lisbon good for stargazing?

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

Is Lisbon good for astrophotography?

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

What can you observe from Lisbon?

Primary targets from Lisbon 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 Lisbon?

The closest meaningfully darker mapped site is Bico do Passarão, about 20 km south of Lisbon, reaching Bortle 7.

When is the sky darkest in Lisbon?

The sky over Lisbon is darkest around January, December.

Is light pollution in Lisbon getting better or worse?

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

• Benavente

  Direction

  E

  Distance (km)

  23.5

  SQM

  19.67

  Bortle

  6

• Bico do Passarão

  Direction

  S

  Distance (km)

  19.7

  SQM

  19.08

  Bortle

  7

• Lapas Grandes

  Direction

  NW

  Distance (km)

  44

  SQM

  19.70

  Bortle

  6

• Ninho D'Águia

  Direction

  N

  Distance (km)

  74.8

  SQM

  20.06

  Bortle

  6

• Vendinha

  Direction

  E

  Distance (km)

  129.4

  SQM

  20.55

  Bortle

  5

• Seladas

  Direction

  SSE

  Distance (km)

  146.5

  SQM

  20.82

  Bortle

  4