Stargazing in Varginha, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Dark-sky rating for Varginha

Varginha, Minas Gerais, Brazil is a small city (population about 136,467). 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

• Pico dos Dias Observatory · observatory · about 110 km away

Milky Way season in Varginha

The bright core of the Milky Way passes almost directly overhead. 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 82°.

• The south celestial pole stands 21.6° above the horizon, so stars within 22° of it never set from here.
• About 68.4% 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 82.6° up, passing almost directly overhead.
• The Large and Small Magellanic Clouds are circumpolar here — visible on any clear, dark night of the year.
• At 887 m elevation, roughly 10% 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 21.6° latitude generally needs about Kp 9.0.

Nearby places

• Pouso Alegre, Minas Gerais, Brazil