Medellín Stargazing & Astronomy Report

Key Sky Quality Metrics

SQM (mag/arcsec²)

18.34

Bortle class

Class 8 (Class 8)

Darkness Quotient

26%

Dataset

August 2026

City sky

Medellín: The Practical Verdict

Medellín, the major city of Antioquia, Colombia, is heavily impacted by light pollution, making it a challenging place for stargazing. The overall quality of the night sky here is poor, with a brightness that largely erases any view of the Milky Way. Dominant light spill from the south-south-west further compromises conditions.

From this location, the clearest observations will be of the Moon, planets, bright stars, and solar system events. Narrowband imaging requires care but can still be effective. However, deep-sky visual observing of galaxies or faint nebulae is unrealistic. The brightness overwhelms low-contrast objects, limiting options to robust, easily visible targets.

For enthusiasts seeking darker skies, travelling to a site about 135 km west can significantly improve observing conditions. This site offers a meaningful upgrade, reducing light pollution to reveal more deep-sky objects for serious astronomical pursuits.

At a Glance

Overall

Poor city sky - This is a poor city sky. The Milky Way is not visible and most deep-sky observing is unrealistic from the location itself.

Milky Way

Not visible - The Milky Way is erased by the bright urban sky background.

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

133 km W sits about 133 km west and reaches Bortle 3, roughly 20x darker.

Good dark window

Medellín 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 Medellín?

No. Medellín is a Bortle Class 8 sky with SQM 18.34, 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 Medellín?

Medellín is Bortle Class 8 (SQM 18.34), a poor city sky for astronomy.

Is Medellín good for stargazing?

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

Is Medellín good for astrophotography?

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

What can you observe from Medellín?

Primary targets from Medellín 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 Medellín?

The closest meaningfully darker mapped site is 34 km WNW, about 34 km west north west of Medellín, reaching Bortle 6.

When is the sky darkest in Medellín?

The sky over Medellín is darkest around January, December.

Is light pollution in Medellín getting better or worse?

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

• 34 km WNW

  Direction

  WNW

  Distance (km)

  34.2

  SQM

  20.08

  Bortle

  6

• 133 km W

  Direction

  W

  Distance (km)

  132.5

  SQM

  21.59

  Bortle

  3

• 110 km SSE

  Direction

  SSE

  Distance (km)

  110.1

  SQM

  20.68

  Bortle

  5

• Altagracia, Chocó

  Direction

  WSW

  Distance (km)

  143.1

  SQM

  21.23

  Bortle

  4

• Puerto Libertador, Córdoba

  Direction

  S

  Distance (km)

  185.4

  SQM

  21.18

  Bortle

  4