Quito Stargazing & Astronomy Report

Key Sky Quality Metrics

SQM (mag/arcsec²)

19.00

Bortle class

Class 7 (Class 7)

Darkness Quotient

33%

Dataset

August 2026

Suburban/urban transition

Quito: The Practical Verdict

Quito, the capital city of Ecuador, is characterised by its dense urban environment and substantial light pollution. Despite being nestled among the Andes, the city's sky is classified under high light pollution, making it a poor location for serious stargazing. The major limiting factor is the oppressive light dome, which significantly diminishes visibility.

From here, the Milky Way is not visible, and while urban stargazers can still turn to the Moon, planets, and bright star clusters, deeper sky targets remain elusive. Practical observing possibilities include narrowband imaging of certain nebulae, yet this requires meticulous processing. Attempting visual deep-sky observation or broadband photography will result in disappointment.

For those willing to travel, the recommended upgrade is to visit Telembi in Esmeraldas, about 95 km north-north-west. This site offers a meaningful increase in sky quality, achieving Bortle 4 conditions and enhancing opportunities for deep-sky observation.

At a Glance

Overall

Poor urban/suburban sky - This is a poor sky for astronomy. The Moon, planets, and a few bright objects remain viable, but deep-sky work is difficult.

Milky Way

Not visible - The Milky Way is not realistically visible from this level of light pollution.

Best targets from here

Moon, planets, bright double stars, bright open clusters, narrowband imaging with careful processing

Do not prioritise

visual deep-sky observing, broadband galaxies, reflection nebulae, Milky Way photography

Best nearby upgrade

Telembi, Esmeraldas sits about 95 km north north west and reaches Bortle 4, roughly 7.2x darker.

Good dark window

Quito 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 Quito?

No. Quito is a Bortle Class 7 sky with SQM 19.00, 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 Quito?

Quito is Bortle Class 7 (SQM 19.00), a poor urban/suburban sky for astronomy.

Is Quito good for stargazing?

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

Is Quito good for astrophotography?

Broadband deep-sky imaging is heavily compromised from Quito and a Bortle 4 or darker site is strongly recommended. Narrowband imaging of bright emission nebulae remains viable from Quito with appropriate Ha or OIII filters.

What can you observe from Quito?

Primary targets from Quito include Moon, planets, bright double stars, bright open clusters, narrowband imaging with careful processing. Targets such as visual deep-sky observing, broadband galaxies, reflection nebulae are not realistic from this sky.

Where are darker skies near Quito?

The closest meaningfully darker mapped site is Puerto Libre, Sucumbíos, about 94 km east north east of Quito, reaching Bortle 4.

When is the sky darkest in Quito?

The sky over Quito is darkest around March, September.

Is light pollution in Quito getting better or worse?

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

• Telembi, Esmeraldas

  Direction

  NNW

  Distance (km)

  95.4

  SQM

  21.15

  Bortle

  4

• Puerto Libre, Sucumbíos

  Direction

  ENE

  Distance (km)

  94.3

  SQM

  20.86

  Bortle

  4

• Cupa, Esmeraldas

  Direction

  WNW

  Distance (km)

  128.5

  SQM

  21.22

  Bortle

  4

• La Palanca, Manabí

  Direction

  W

  Distance (km)

  140.8

  SQM

  21.11

  Bortle

  4