Stargazing guide
Stargazing in Marrakech, Morocco
Marrakech, Morocco has an estimated Bortle 5–6 sky (mid-sized city). The Milky Way core is highest after dark in April, at about 29°.
How dark the sky is around Marrakech, Morocco, the nearest certified dark-sky places, when the Milky Way core is visible, and the next dark New Moon. Calculated for 31.63°, -7.98°.
Estimated sky glow
Milky Way core
Next New Moon
Dark-sky rating for Marrakech
Marrakech, Morocco is a mid-sized city (population about 990,000). 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
- Oukaïmeden Observatory · observatory · about 48 km away
Milky Way season in Marrakech
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 29°.
- The north celestial pole stands 31.6° above the horizon, so stars within 32° of it never set from here.
- About 76.2% 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 29.4° up, staying low, so a clear southern horizon matters.
Tonight and aurora
As of October 13, 2026 (UTC) the Moon is a Waxing Crescent at 11% illumination. Aurora at 31.6° latitude generally needs about Kp 9.0.
Nearby places
Stargazing in Marrakech: common questions
Is Marrakech a good place for stargazing?
Marrakech, Morocco 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 Oukaïmeden Observatory, about 48 km away.
When can you see the Milky Way from Marrakech?
From Marrakech, Morocco (31.63°, -7.98°) 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 29°. Moonlight, cloud and city lights still decide what you actually see.
What is the best night this month for stargazing near Marrakech?
The darkest nights fall around the New Moon. As of 2026-10-13 the Moon is a Waxing Crescent at 11% illumination, and the next New Moon is November 9, 2026 (UTC). Pair it with a clear forecast and a site away from town lights.