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Stargazing guide

Stargazing in Virginia, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Virginia, Minas Gerais, Brazil has an estimated Bortle 1–4 sky (small town). The Milky Way core is highest after dark in April, at about 83°.

How dark the sky is around Virginia, Minas Gerais, Brazil, the nearest certified dark-sky places, when the Milky Way core is visible, and the next dark New Moon. Calculated for -22.33°, -45.09°.

Estimated sky glow

Bortle 1–4
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Milky Way core

April
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Next New Moon

November 9, 2026
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Dark-sky rating for Virginia

Virginia, Minas Gerais, Brazil is a small town (population about 8,908). A place this size typically has a rural sky: the Milky Way is usually visible on clear, moonless nights away from local lighting. That is an estimate of Bortle class 1–4 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 55 km away

Milky Way season in Virginia

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 83°.

  • The south celestial pole stands 22.3° above the horizon, so stars within 22° of it never set from here.
  • About 69% 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 83.3° up, passing almost directly overhead.
  • The Large and Small Magellanic Clouds are circumpolar here — visible on any clear, dark night of the year.
  • At 943 m elevation, roughly 11% of the atmosphere's mass is already below you, which measurably reduces extinction near the horizon.

Tonight and aurora

As of November 6, 2026 (UTC) the Moon is a Waning Crescent at 8% illumination. Aurora at 22.3° latitude generally needs about Kp 9.0.

Nearby places

Stargazing in Virginia: common questions

Is Virginia a good place for stargazing?

Virginia, Minas Gerais, Brazil is a small town, so its typical sky is rural sky: the Milky Way is usually visible on clear, moonless nights away from local lighting (an estimate of Bortle 1–4 from population, not a measurement). The nearest certified dark-sky place or observatory in our registry is Pico dos Dias Observatory, about 55 km away.

When can you see the Milky Way from Virginia?

From Virginia, Minas Gerais, Brazil (-22.33°, -45.09°) the Milky Way's bright core climbs at least 20° above the horizon during astronomical darkness in February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October. It peaks in April, reaching about 83°. Moonlight, cloud and city lights still decide what you actually see.

What is the best night this month for stargazing near Virginia?

The darkest nights fall around the New Moon. As of 2026-11-06 the Moon is a Waning Crescent at 8% illumination, and the next New Moon is November 9, 2026 (UTC). Pair it with a clear forecast and a site away from town lights.