Stargazing guide
Stargazing in Charleroi, Wallonia, Belgium
Charleroi, Wallonia, Belgium has an estimated Bortle 4–5 sky (small city). The Milky Way core never climbs 20° above the horizon during astronomical darkness from here.
How dark the sky is around Charleroi, Wallonia, Belgium, the nearest certified dark-sky places, when the Milky Way core is visible, and the next dark New Moon. Calculated for 50.41°, 4.44°.
Estimated sky glow
Milky Way core
Next New Moon
Dark-sky rating for Charleroi
Charleroi, Wallonia, Belgium is a small city (population about 200,132). 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
- Eifel National Park Dark Sky Park · certified dark-sky place · about 140 km away
Milky Way season in Charleroi
The Milky Way's bright core never climbs 20° above the horizon during astronomical darkness from Charleroi; the fainter band is still visible from a dark site.
- The north celestial pole stands 50.4° above the horizon, so stars within 50° of it never set from here.
- About 88.5% 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 10.6° up, staying low, so a clear southern horizon matters.
- At 136 m elevation, roughly 2% of the atmosphere's mass is already below you, which measurably reduces extinction near the horizon.
Tonight and aurora
As of October 18, 2026 (UTC) the Moon is a First Quarter at 48% illumination. Aurora at 50.4° latitude generally needs about Kp 5.5.
Nearby places
Stargazing in Charleroi: common questions
Is Charleroi a good place for stargazing?
Charleroi, Wallonia, Belgium 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). The nearest certified dark-sky place or observatory in our registry is Eifel National Park Dark Sky Park, about 140 km away.
When can you see the Milky Way from Charleroi?
From Charleroi, Wallonia, Belgium the Milky Way's bright core never climbs 20° above the horizon during astronomical darkness at any time of year, so the best views are of the fainter parts of the band.
What is the best night this month for stargazing near Charleroi?
The darkest nights fall around the New Moon. As of 2026-10-18 the Moon is a First Quarter at 48% illumination, and the next New Moon is November 9, 2026 (UTC). Pair it with a clear forecast and a site away from town lights.