Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India — Bortle class 5 (VIIRS satellite data, 2025). Estimated sky brightness SQM 20.13 mag/arcsec², naked-eye limiting magnitude ~4.6, radiance 7.45 nW/cm²/sr.
Madurai has a suburban sky (Bortle 5). The Milky Way is faint and only hinted at on the best moonless nights. Only around 100–250 stars are visible to the naked eye (limiting magnitude ~4.6).
Barely — from Madurai (Bortle 5) the Milky Way appears only as a faint band on the very best moonless nights, away from direct lights.
Satellite data shows a Bortle 4 sky (SQM ~21.56) about 20 km south of Madurai. Explore the light pollution map to plan a dark-sky trip.
Madurai has a suburban sky (Bortle 5). The Milky Way is faint and only hinted at on the best moonless nights. The estimated sky brightness is SQM 20.13 mag/arcsec² (VIIRS satellite data, 2025). Only around 100–250 stars are visible to the naked eye (limiting magnitude ~4.6).
Barely — from Madurai (Bortle 5) the Milky Way appears only as a faint band on the very best moonless nights, away from direct lights.
Satellite data shows a Bortle 4 sky (SQM ~21.56) about 20 km south of Madurai. Check the SkyQI light pollution map to plan a route and find nearby community readings.
Photograph the night sky with the free SkyQI app (iOS and Android) or upload a photo at skyqi.in. You get an instant SQM value and Bortle class for your exact location — satellite estimates can understate the skyglow you actually see from the ground, so real measurements from Madurai improve the map for everyone.
Light pollution in other Indian cities · Measure your sky now
Get the free SkyQI app: SkyQI - Light Pollution on the App Store (iOS) · SkyQI - Light Pollution Monitor on Google Play (Android)