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Stargazing guide

Stargazing in Al-Junaynah, Western Darfur, Sudan

Al-Junaynah, Western Darfur, Sudan has an estimated Bortle 4–5 sky (small city). The Milky Way core is highest after dark in April, at about 48°.

How dark the sky is around Al-Junaynah, Western Darfur, Sudan, the nearest certified dark-sky places, when the Milky Way core is visible, and the next dark New Moon. Calculated for 13.45°, 22.45°.

Estimated sky glow

Bortle 4–5
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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 Al-Junaynah

Al-Junaynah, Western Darfur, Sudan is a small city (population about 162,981). 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 Al-Junaynah. Our list only includes genuine, publicly documented sites, so none is shown rather than guessed.

Milky Way season in Al-Junaynah

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 48°.

  • The north celestial pole stands 13.5° above the horizon, so stars within 14° of it never set from here.
  • About 61.6% 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 47.5° up, clearing the horizon haze comfortably.
  • The Large Magellanic Cloud only reaches about 6.8° altitude, so it is a low, seasonal target rather than a year-round one.
  • At 797 m elevation, roughly 9% of the atmosphere's mass is already below you, which measurably reduces extinction near the horizon.

Tonight and aurora

As of October 15, 2026 (UTC) the Moon is a Waxing Crescent at 25% illumination. Aurora at 13.5° latitude generally needs about Kp 9.0.

Nearby places

Stargazing in Al-Junaynah: common questions

Is Al-Junaynah a good place for stargazing?

Al-Junaynah, Western Darfur, Sudan is a small city, so its typical sky is rural to suburban transition: the Milky Way core can be glimpsed on clear, moonless nights (an estimate of Bortle 4–5 from population, not a measurement). No certified dark-sky place or observatory in our registry lies within 150 km, so a dark site means driving away from the city's glow toward the darkest horizon you can reach.

When can you see the Milky Way from Al-Junaynah?

From Al-Junaynah, Western Darfur, Sudan (13.45°, 22.45°) 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 48°. Moonlight, cloud and city lights still decide what you actually see.

What is the best night this month for stargazing near Al-Junaynah?

The darkest nights fall around the New Moon. As of 2026-10-15 the Moon is a Waxing Crescent at 25% illumination, and the next New Moon is November 9, 2026 (UTC). Pair it with a clear forecast and a site away from town lights.