Guadalajara Stargazing & Astronomy Report

Key Sky Quality Metrics

SQM (mag/arcsec²)

18.10

Bortle class

Class 8 (Class 8)

Darkness Quotient

24%

Dataset

April 2026

City sky

Guadalajara: The Practical Verdict

Guadalajara, being a major urban area in Jalisco, is characterised by high light pollution levels, typical of large cities. The sky here is rated as Bortle 8, ensuring that only the brightest objects such as the Moon and planets stand out, while fainter deep-sky targets and the Milky Way are completely obscured. Stargazing quality is dominated by the city's bright urban glow and directional asymmetry, with the south-south-east horizon being especially hindered.

What can still be accessed here includes planetary observation, lunar studies, and bright stars or double systems. Astronomical imaging is viable but narrowband methods must be employed carefully to manage the bright background skewing exposures. Avoid broadfield Milky Way shots or faint nebulae entirely. For more extensive amateur observing or deep-sky astrophotography, the city's conditions are limiting.

To escape these challenges, a drive west-south-west to Tomatlán, Jalisco offers much improved skies with Bortle 4 quality for serious astronomy under true dark conditions. It is well worth the drive for broader stargazing opportunities.

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

Tomatlán, Jalisco sits about 154 km west south west and reaches Bortle 4, roughly 17x darker.

Good dark window

Guadalajara 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 Guadalajara?

No. Guadalajara is a Bortle Class 8 sky with SQM 18.10, 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 Guadalajara?

Guadalajara is Bortle Class 8 (SQM 18.10), a poor city sky for astronomy.

Is Guadalajara good for stargazing?

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

Is Guadalajara good for astrophotography?

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

What can you observe from Guadalajara?

Primary targets from Guadalajara 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 Guadalajara?

The closest meaningfully darker mapped site is Jalostotitlán, Jalisco, about 106 km north east of Guadalajara, reaching Bortle 4.

When is the sky darkest in Guadalajara?

The sky over Guadalajara is darkest around January, December.

Is light pollution in Guadalajara getting better or worse?

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

• Jalostotitlán, Jalisco

  Direction

  NE

  Distance (km)

  106.1

  SQM

  20.84

  Bortle

  4

• Santa María del Oro, Nayarit

  Direction

  WNW

  Distance (km)

  139.4

  SQM

  21.01

  Bortle

  4

• Tuxcacuesco, Jalisco

  Direction

  SW

  Distance (km)

  128

  SQM

  20.67

  Bortle

  5

• Tomatlán, Jalisco

  Direction

  WSW

  Distance (km)

  153.8

  SQM

  21.18

  Bortle

  4

• Ahuijullo, Jalisco

  Direction

  S

  Distance (km)

  173

  SQM

  21.11

  Bortle

  4

• Angamacutiro, Michoacán

  Direction

  ESE

  Distance (km)

  181.1

  SQM

  20.76

  Bortle

  5