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Stargazing guide

Stargazing in Goure, Zinder Region, Niger

Goure, Zinder Region, Niger has an estimated Bortle 1–4 sky (small town). The Milky Way core is highest after dark in April, at about 47°.

How dark the sky is around Goure, Zinder Region, Niger, the nearest certified dark-sky places, when the Milky Way core is visible, and the next dark New Moon. Calculated for 13.98°, 10.27°.

Estimated sky glow

Bortle 1–4
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Milky Way core

April
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Next New Moon

November 9, 2026
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Dark-sky rating for Goure

Goure, Zinder Region, Niger is a small town (population about 24,752). A place this size typically has a rural sky: the Milky Way is usually visible on clear, moonless nights away from local lighting. That is an estimate of Bortle class 1–4 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 Goure. Our list only includes genuine, publicly documented sites, so none is shown rather than guessed.

Milky Way season in Goure

The bright core of the Milky Way climbs high above the horizon haze. It climbs at least 20° above the horizon during astronomical darkness in February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, peaking in April at about 47°.

  • The north celestial pole stands 14° above the horizon, so stars within 14° of it never set from here.
  • About 62.1% 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 47° up, clearing the horizon haze comfortably.
  • The Large Magellanic Cloud only reaches about 6.3° altitude, so it is a low, seasonal target rather than a year-round one.
  • At 447 m elevation, roughly 5% of the atmosphere's mass is already below you, which measurably reduces extinction near the horizon.

Tonight and aurora

As of October 17, 2026 (UTC) the Moon is a Waxing Crescent at 38% illumination. Aurora at 14.0° latitude generally needs about Kp 9.0.

Nearby places

Stargazing in Goure: common questions

Is Goure a good place for stargazing?

Goure, Zinder Region, Niger is a small town, so its typical sky is rural sky: the Milky Way is usually visible on clear, moonless nights away from local lighting (an estimate of Bortle 1–4 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 Goure?

From Goure, Zinder Region, Niger (13.98°, 10.27°) the Milky Way's bright core climbs at least 20° above the horizon during astronomical darkness in February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October. It peaks in April, reaching about 47°. Moonlight, cloud and city lights still decide what you actually see.

What is the best night this month for stargazing near Goure?

The darkest nights fall around the New Moon. As of 2026-10-17 the Moon is a Waxing Crescent at 38% illumination, and the next New Moon is November 9, 2026 (UTC). Pair it with a clear forecast and a site away from town lights.