Stargazing in Matanzas, Matanzas Province, Cuba

Dark-sky rating for Matanzas

Matanzas, Matanzas Province, Cuba is a small city (population about 146,733). A place this size typically has a rural to suburban transition: the Milky Way core can be glimpsed on clear, moonless nights. That is an estimate of Bortle class 4–5 from population, not a measurement: the real value depends on the exact spot you observe from.

For a measured reading at any point, open the live Dark Sky map.

Nearest dark-sky places and observatories

No certified dark-sky place or observatory in our registry lies within 150 km of Matanzas. Our list only includes genuine, publicly documented sites, so none is shown rather than guessed.

Milky Way season in Matanzas

The bright core of the Milky Way climbs high above the horizon haze. It climbs at least 20° above the horizon during astronomical darkness in February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, peaking in April at about 38°.

• The north celestial pole stands 23° above the horizon, so stars within 23° of it never set from here.
• About 69.6% of the whole sky rises above the horizon at some point in the year from this latitude.
• The Milky Way's core in Sagittarius culminates about 38° up, clearing the horizon haze comfortably.
• At 1 m elevation, roughly 0% of the atmosphere's mass is already below you, which measurably reduces extinction near the horizon.

Tonight and aurora

As of October 17, 2026 (UTC) the Moon is a Waxing Crescent at 38% illumination. Aurora at 23.0° latitude generally needs about Kp 9.0.

Nearby places

• Havana, Havana, Cuba