Maracaibo Stargazing & Astronomy Report

Key Sky Quality Metrics

SQM (mag/arcsec²)

17.19

Bortle class

Class 9 (Class 9)

Darkness Quotient

17%

Dataset

May 2026

Inner city sky

Maracaibo: The Practical Verdict

Maracaibo, a major city in Zulia State, Venezuela, is characterised by severe urban sky conditions, with extreme light pollution limiting the range of celestial sights. As such, astronomical observations here are significantly restricted, with the Milky Way not visible at all under these skies.

For observers in Maracaibo, practical targets are limited to the Moon, planets, bright stars, and double stars. Narrowband imaging is feasible but demands care. Anything beyond the brightest nebulae or clusters is best avoided, and deep-sky observing of galaxies or faint nebulae is unappealing.

For those seeking better sky quality, Uribia, La Guajira, offers a substantially darker sky, about 150 km south-south-west. This Bortle 2 site promises significant improvements for deep-sky observing and is worth considering if serious astronomy is the goal.

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

Uribia, La Guajira sits about 152 km south south west and reaches Bortle 2, roughly 65x darker.

Good dark window

Maracaibo 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 Maracaibo?

No. Maracaibo is a Bortle Class 9 sky with SQM 17.19, 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 Maracaibo?

Maracaibo is Bortle Class 9 (SQM 17.19), a severe urban sky for astronomy.

Is Maracaibo good for stargazing?

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

Is Maracaibo good for astrophotography?

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

What can you observe from Maracaibo?

Primary targets from Maracaibo 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 Maracaibo?

The closest meaningfully darker mapped site is Parroquia Faría, Zulia State, about 39 km north east of Maracaibo, reaching Bortle 6.

When is the sky darkest in Maracaibo?

The sky over Maracaibo is darkest around January, December.

Is light pollution in Maracaibo getting better or worse?

The long-term trend for Maracaibo is gradually worsening, with the sky brightening by about 0.05 SQM per year.

• Parroquia Faría, Zulia State

  Direction

  NE

  Distance (km)

  38.8

  SQM

  20.19

  Bortle

  6

• Parroquia Monagas, Zulia State

  Direction

  NNW

  Distance (km)

  43.3

  SQM

  20.39

  Bortle

  5

• Maicao, La Guajira

  Direction

  NW

  Distance (km)

  99.9

  SQM

  20.85

  Bortle

  4

• Uribia, La Guajira

  Direction

  SSW

  Distance (km)

  152.1

  SQM

  21.72

  Bortle

  2

• Parroquia Encontrados, Zulia State

  Direction

  S

  Distance (km)

  161.2

  SQM

  21.41

  Bortle

  3

• Cauca, Falcon State

  Direction

  ENE

  Distance (km)

  158.6

  SQM

  20.98

  Bortle

  4