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Live Sky Report

What Can I See in the Sky Tonight in Bukavu, South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo?

Waning Crescent moon at 14%, Saturn shines at magnitude 0.4. Calculated for -2.49°, 28.84° (Africa/Lubumbashi).

Moon
Waning Crescent
14% lit
Sunset
5:54 PM
Dusk 7:06 PM
Dark hours
9.4 h
Dawn 4:30 AM
Aurora
Needs Kp 9+
Belt 58°

Visible planets tonight

Saturn, Mars, Jupiter, Venus — brightest: Saturn at mag 0.4 in Cetus

🔭 Tonight's Sky Report

📍 Bukavu, South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo — Thursday, November 5

⭐ StargazingPoor
🌙 MoonWaning Crescent • 14% Illumination
🪐 Visible planetsVenus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn
🌠 Meteor activityLeonids in 11 days
🌌 Milky WayVisible after dark, low moonlight
🛰️ ISSISS pass times load on page open
🌈 AuroraUnlikely — Quiet (Kp 1.3)
☁️ Cloud cover95%
🌡️ Temperature70°F

Weather observed: 2:00 PM UTC · Space weather observed: 9:00 AM UTC

Tonight's sky above Bukavu, South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Whether tonight is a good night for stargazing from Bukavu, South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo comes down to four real things: the Moon phase, cloud cover, which planets are up, and the current Kp index.

Local sky character in Bukavu

Tropical / equatorial latitudes · southern hemisphere · 1631 m elevation

  • The south celestial pole stands 2.5° above the horizon, so stars within 3° of it never set from here.
  • About 52.2% 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 63.5° up, clearing the horizon haze comfortably.
  • The Large Magellanic Cloud only reaches about 22.8° altitude, so it is a low, seasonal target rather than a year-round one.
  • At 1631 m elevation, roughly 17% of the atmosphere's mass is already below you, which measurably reduces extinction near the horizon.
Pole altitude
2.5°
Sky reachable
52.2%
Milky Way core
63.5° max
Aurora australis
Kp 9+

Bukavu is a mid-sized urban area — bright constellations and planets work from town; faint deep-sky objects need a drive out.

PoorSky Viewing Conditions tonight

What does this mean for you?

Your Sky Briefing

Right now
The sky is currently too bright for stargazing or aurora viewing.
Tonight
Cloud cover is the main factor limiting visibility tonight.
Aurora
Current geomagnetic activity (Kp 1.3, quiet) is not strong enough to bring the aurora to your latitude.
Weather
No significant rain, wind or temperature extremes are expected overnight.

Tonight is not a strong night for stargazing -- check back tomorrow.

What is a geomagnetic storm?How do auroras form?

Best nights this month in Bukavu

Calculated for these coordinates and today's date — not a fixed list.

  • 2026-11-09 — Darkest night of the coming month

    The Moon is only 0% illuminated, giving the least lunar interference in the next 30 nights — the best window for the Milky Way and faint deep-sky targets from Bukavu, South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo.

  • 2026-11-17 — Leonids peak — up to 15/hour

    Radiant in Leo. Visible from both hemispheres. The Moon is 45% lit on peak night, so lunar interference is moderate.

  • 2026-11-24 — Full Moon

    A 100%-lit Moon washes out faint objects, but lunar terrain along the limb is at its most striking — plan bright targets and planets instead of deep sky.

Bukavu, South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo stargazing questions

What can I see in the sky tonight from Bukavu, South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo?
Tonight from Bukavu, South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo expect a waning crescent Moon at 14% illumination, with these naked-eye planets above the horizon after dark: Saturn, Mars, Jupiter, Venus. The night offers about 9.4 hours of true astronomical darkness.
What planets are visible tonight in Bukavu, South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo?
Tonight in Bukavu, South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Saturn, Mars, Jupiter, Venus are visible to the naked eye after dark, based on this location's real ephemeris for tonight.
When does darkness start tonight in Bukavu, South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo?
Astronomical darkness begins at 7:06 PM local time in Bukavu, South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo tonight, the moment the Sun drops more than 18° below the horizon and the sky becomes fully dark for faint-object observing.
Can you see the aurora tonight in Bukavu, South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo?
Bukavu, South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo is far enough from the pole that aurora only reaches overhead during a major geomagnetic storm — specifically when the planetary Kp index reaches about 9, a level reached only a handful of times per solar cycle.
What is the stargazing light pollution level in Bukavu, South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo?
Bukavu, South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo is a mid-sized urban area — typically Bortle class 5–6 (bright suburban sky), where major constellations are workable but the Milky Way is washed out. These are typical ranges for this population size, not a measured reading for this exact spot — use tonight's Moon phase and the best-nights list above to time a visit away from direct lighting.
Does Bukavu, South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo's elevation help stargazing?
At 1631 m you are above a meaningful fraction of the atmosphere, which reduces extinction and scintillation — the reason major observatories are sited high.
What should I plan for observing near Bukavu, South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo?
High sites reward targets that suffer most from atmosphere: planets at high altitude, faint nebulae, and the Milky Way, which culminates around 63.5° here. Cold and thinner air are the practical constraints, not the sky.
How dark does it actually get in Bukavu, South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo tonight?
About 9.4 hours of astronomical darkness (Sun more than 18° below the horizon). That is the real observing window for faint objects; brighter targets are workable from dusk onward.

Nearby cities

Real great-circle distance from Bukavu, South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo.

More in South Kivu

Other sky reports in the same region.

Sky tonight across Democratic Republic of the Congo

Other cities in Democratic Republic of the Congo with live sky reports.

Popular astronomy destinations

Aurora hubs, dark-sky sites, and observatory towns.

☄️ Leonids peaks in 11 days

Up to 15 meteors/hour at peak, radiating from Leo.

Full viewing guide →

Related astronomy for Bukavu, South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this just astronomy weather for Bukavu?

This page goes beyond ordinary astronomy weather -- it combines real local weather for astronomy, live space weather, and the space weather aurora connection into one live report for Bukavu, South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo.

What are tonight's astronomy viewing conditions for Bukavu?

The sky viewing conditions badge above reflects the real astronomy viewing conditions for Bukavu, South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo right now -- cloud cover, darkness, and moon interference combined, not moon phase alone. Good weather for stargazing depends on all of these together.