Stargazing guide
Stargazing in Al-Kut, Wasit, Iraq
Al-Kut, Wasit, Iraq has an estimated Bortle 5–6 sky (mid-sized city). The Milky Way core is highest after dark in April, at about 29°.
How dark the sky is around Al-Kut, Wasit, Iraq, the nearest certified dark-sky places, when the Milky Way core is visible, and the next dark New Moon. Calculated for 32.51°, 45.82°.
Estimated sky glow
Milky Way core
Next New Moon
Dark-sky rating for Al-Kut
Al-Kut, Wasit, Iraq is a mid-sized city (population about 315,162). A place this size typically has a bright suburban sky: main constellations are easy, the Milky Way is washed out. That is an estimate of Bortle class 5–6 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-Kut. Our list only includes genuine, publicly documented sites, so none is shown rather than guessed.
Milky Way season in Al-Kut
The bright core of the Milky Way stays low, so you need a clear southern or northern horizon. It climbs at least 20° above the horizon during astronomical darkness in March, April, May, June, July, August, September, peaking in April at about 29°.
- The north celestial pole stands 32.5° above the horizon, so stars within 33° of it never set from here.
- About 76.9% 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 28.5° up, staying low, so a clear southern horizon matters.
- At 22 m elevation, roughly 0% of the atmosphere's mass is already below you, which measurably reduces extinction near the horizon.
Tonight and aurora
As of October 19, 2026 (UTC) the Moon is a Waxing Gibbous at 61% illumination. Aurora at 32.5° latitude generally needs about Kp 9.0.
Nearby places
Stargazing in Al-Kut: common questions
Is Al-Kut a good place for stargazing?
Al-Kut, Wasit, Iraq is a mid-sized city, so its typical sky is bright suburban sky: main constellations are easy, the Milky Way is washed out (an estimate of Bortle 5–6 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-Kut?
From Al-Kut, Wasit, Iraq (32.51°, 45.82°) the Milky Way's bright core climbs at least 20° above the horizon during astronomical darkness in March, April, May, June, July, August, September. It peaks in April, reaching about 29°. Moonlight, cloud and city lights still decide what you actually see.
What is the best night this month for stargazing near Al-Kut?
The darkest nights fall around the New Moon. As of 2026-10-19 the Moon is a Waxing Gibbous at 61% illumination, and the next New Moon is November 9, 2026 (UTC). Pair it with a clear forecast and a site away from town lights.