Stargazing guide
Stargazing in Kenema, Eastern Province, Sierra Leone
Kenema, Eastern Province, Sierra Leone has an estimated Bortle 5–6 sky (mid-sized city). The Milky Way core is highest after dark in April, at about 53°.
How dark the sky is around Kenema, Eastern Province, Sierra Leone, the nearest certified dark-sky places, when the Milky Way core is visible, and the next dark New Moon. Calculated for 7.88°, -11.19°.
Estimated sky glow
Milky Way core
Next New Moon
Dark-sky rating for Kenema
Kenema, Eastern Province, Sierra Leone is a mid-sized city (population about 255,110). 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 Kenema. Our list only includes genuine, publicly documented sites, so none is shown rather than guessed.
Milky Way season in Kenema
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 53°.
- The north celestial pole stands 7.9° above the horizon, so stars within 8° of it never set from here.
- About 56.9% 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 53.1° up, clearing the horizon haze comfortably.
- The Large Magellanic Cloud only reaches about 12.4° altitude, so it is a low, seasonal target rather than a year-round one.
- At 182 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 19, 2026 (UTC) the Moon is a First Quarter at 59% illumination. Aurora at 7.9° latitude generally needs about Kp 9.0.
Nearby places
Stargazing in Kenema: common questions
Is Kenema a good place for stargazing?
Kenema, Eastern Province, Sierra Leone 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 Kenema?
From Kenema, Eastern Province, Sierra Leone (7.88°, -11.19°) 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 53°. Moonlight, cloud and city lights still decide what you actually see.
What is the best night this month for stargazing near Kenema?
The darkest nights fall around the New Moon. As of 2026-10-19 the Moon is a First Quarter at 59% illumination, and the next New Moon is November 9, 2026 (UTC). Pair it with a clear forecast and a site away from town lights.