Stargazing guide
Stargazing in Ardabil, Ardabil Province, Iran
Ardabil, Ardabil Province, Iran has an estimated Bortle 5–6 sky (mid-sized city). The Milky Way core is highest after dark in June, at about 23°.
How dark the sky is around Ardabil, Ardabil Province, Iran, the nearest certified dark-sky places, when the Milky Way core is visible, and the next dark New Moon. Calculated for 38.25°, 48.29°.
Estimated sky glow
Milky Way core
Next New Moon
Dark-sky rating for Ardabil
Ardabil, Ardabil Province, Iran is a mid-sized city (population about 410,753). 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 Ardabil. Our list only includes genuine, publicly documented sites, so none is shown rather than guessed.
Milky Way season in Ardabil
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 April, May, June, July, August, peaking in June at about 23°.
- The north celestial pole stands 38.2° above the horizon, so stars within 38° of it never set from here.
- About 81% 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 22.8° up, staying low, so a clear southern horizon matters.
- At 1353 m elevation, roughly 15% 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 First Quarter at 53% illumination. Aurora at 38.2° latitude generally needs about Kp 9.0.
Nearby places
Stargazing in Ardabil: common questions
Is Ardabil a good place for stargazing?
Ardabil, Ardabil Province, Iran 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 Ardabil?
From Ardabil, Ardabil Province, Iran (38.25°, 48.29°) the Milky Way's bright core climbs at least 20° above the horizon during astronomical darkness in April, May, June, July, August. It peaks in June, reaching about 23°. Moonlight, cloud and city lights still decide what you actually see.
What is the best night this month for stargazing near Ardabil?
The darkest nights fall around the New Moon. As of 2026-10-19 the Moon is a First Quarter at 53% illumination, and the next New Moon is November 9, 2026 (UTC). Pair it with a clear forecast and a site away from town lights.