Stargazing guide
Stargazing in Cairo, Cairo, Egypt
Cairo, Cairo, Egypt has an estimated Bortle 7–9 sky (large metropolitan area). The Milky Way core is highest after dark in April, at about 31°.
How dark the sky is around Cairo, Cairo, Egypt, the nearest certified dark-sky places, when the Milky Way core is visible, and the next dark New Moon. Calculated for 30.04°, 31.24°.
Estimated sky glow
Milky Way core
Next New Moon
Dark-sky rating for Cairo
Cairo, Cairo, Egypt is a large metropolitan area (population about 21,300,000). A place this size typically has a bright inner-city sky: only the Moon, planets and the brightest stars show from inside the urban core. That is an estimate of Bortle class 7–9 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 59 km away
Milky Way season in Cairo
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 31°.
- The north celestial pole stands 30° above the horizon, so stars within 30° of it never set from here.
- About 75% 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° up, staying low, so a clear southern horizon matters.
- At 23 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 14, 2026 (UTC) the Moon is a Waxing Crescent at 15% illumination. Aurora at 30.0° latitude generally needs about Kp 9.0.
Nearby places
Stargazing in Cairo: common questions
Is Cairo a good place for stargazing?
Cairo, Cairo, Egypt is a large metropolitan area, so its typical sky is bright inner-city sky: only the Moon, planets and the brightest stars show from inside the urban core (an estimate of Bortle 7–9 from population, not a measurement). The nearest certified dark-sky place or observatory in our registry is Kottamia Observatory, about 59 km away.
When can you see the Milky Way from Cairo?
From Cairo, Cairo, Egypt (30.04°, 31.24°) 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 31°. Moonlight, cloud and city lights still decide what you actually see.
What is the best night this month for stargazing near Cairo?
The darkest nights fall around the New Moon. As of 2026-10-14 the Moon is a Waxing Crescent at 15% illumination, and the next New Moon is November 9, 2026 (UTC). Pair it with a clear forecast and a site away from town lights.