Maracaibo Stargazing & Astronomy Report

Key Sky Quality Metrics

SQM (mag/arcsec²)

17.23

Bortle class

Class 9 (Class 9)

Darkness Quotient

17%

Dataset

July 2026

Inner city sky

Maracaibo: The Practical Verdict

Maracaibo, a major city located in Zulia State, Venezuela, unfortunately suffers from extreme light pollution. This severe urban sky quality means that stargazing is significantly limited, with the Milky Way entirely obscured. The primary constraint here is the pervasive light pollution that restricts deep-sky observing.

From this location, practical stargazing is confined to the Moon, visible planets, and bright stars, along with potential sightings of double stars and solar system events. Some bright open clusters might be seen with care, but most deep-sky objects remain elusive. The eastern horizon is somewhat clearer, offering slightly better conditions for less polluted images or observations.

For a truly enhanced stargazing experience, travelling south to Uribia, La Guajira, is advisable. This site, a longer drive away, offers a dramatically darker sky with Bortle 2 conditions, making it a worthwhile destination for those serious about astronomy.

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 154 km south and reaches Bortle 2, roughly 62x 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 17.23, 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 17.23), 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 Pedro Lucas Urribarrí, Zulia State, about 26 km east south 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 Pedro Lucas Urribarrí, Zulia State

  Direction

  ESE

  Distance (km)

  25.9

  SQM

  19.95

  Bortle

  6

• Borojó, Falcon State

  Direction

  NE

  Distance (km)

  98.3

  SQM

  21.04

  Bortle

  4

• Jaguey Jurahechon, La Guajira

  Direction

  NNW

  Distance (km)

  118.2

  SQM

  21.16

  Bortle

  4

• La Raya, Zulia State

  Direction

  SE

  Distance (km)

  125.4

  SQM

  20.78

  Bortle

  5

• Uribia, La Guajira

  Direction

  S

  Distance (km)

  154

  SQM

  21.71

  Bortle

  2

• Juan y Medio, La Guajira

  Direction

  WNW

  Distance (km)

  160

  SQM

  21.06

  Bortle

  4