Stargazing guide
Stargazing in Bani Suwayf, Beni Suweif, Egypt
Bani Suwayf, Beni Suweif, Egypt has an estimated Bortle 5–6 sky (mid-sized city). The Milky Way core is highest after dark in April, at about 32°.
How dark the sky is around Bani Suwayf, Beni Suweif, Egypt, the nearest certified dark-sky places, when the Milky Way core is visible, and the next dark New Moon. Calculated for 29.07°, 31.10°.
Estimated sky glow
Milky Way core
Next New Moon
Dark-sky rating for Bani Suwayf
Bani Suwayf, Beni Suweif, Egypt is a mid-sized city (population about 273,151). 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
- Kottamia Observatory · observatory · about 119 km away
Milky Way season in Bani Suwayf
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 32°.
- The north celestial pole stands 29.1° above the horizon, so stars within 29° of it never set from here.
- About 74.3% 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 31.9° up, staying low, so a clear southern horizon matters.
- At 33 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 15, 2026 (UTC) the Moon is a Waxing Crescent at 21% illumination. Aurora at 29.1° latitude generally needs about Kp 9.0.
Nearby places
Stargazing in Bani Suwayf: common questions
Is Bani Suwayf a good place for stargazing?
Bani Suwayf, Beni Suweif, Egypt 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). The nearest certified dark-sky place or observatory in our registry is Kottamia Observatory, about 119 km away.
When can you see the Milky Way from Bani Suwayf?
From Bani Suwayf, Beni Suweif, Egypt (29.07°, 31.10°) 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 32°. Moonlight, cloud and city lights still decide what you actually see.
What is the best night this month for stargazing near Bani Suwayf?
The darkest nights fall around the New Moon. As of 2026-10-15 the Moon is a Waxing Crescent at 21% illumination, and the next New Moon is November 9, 2026 (UTC). Pair it with a clear forecast and a site away from town lights.