Stargazing guide
Stargazing in Nashik, Maharashtra, India
Nashik, Maharashtra, India has an estimated Bortle 7–9 sky (large metropolitan area). The Milky Way core is highest after dark in April, at about 41°.
How dark the sky is around Nashik, Maharashtra, India, the nearest certified dark-sky places, when the Milky Way core is visible, and the next dark New Moon. Calculated for 20.00°, 73.79°.
Estimated sky glow
Milky Way core
Next New Moon
Dark-sky rating for Nashik
Nashik, Maharashtra, India is a large metropolitan area (population about 1,486,053). 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
- Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope · observatory · about 104 km away
Milky Way season in Nashik
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 41°.
- The north celestial pole stands 20° above the horizon, so stars within 20° of it never set from here.
- About 67.1% 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 41° up, clearing the horizon haze comfortably.
- The Large Magellanic Cloud only reaches about 0.3° altitude, so it is a low, seasonal target rather than a year-round one.
- At 584 m elevation, roughly 7% of the atmosphere's mass is already below you, which measurably reduces extinction near the horizon.
Tonight and aurora
As of October 15, 2026 (UTC) the Moon is a Waxing Crescent at 21% illumination. Aurora at 20.0° latitude generally needs about Kp 9.0.
Nearby places
Stargazing in Nashik: common questions
Is Nashik a good place for stargazing?
Nashik, Maharashtra, India 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 Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope, about 104 km away.
When can you see the Milky Way from Nashik?
From Nashik, Maharashtra, India (20.00°, 73.79°) 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 41°. Moonlight, cloud and city lights still decide what you actually see.
What is the best night this month for stargazing near Nashik?
The darkest nights fall around the New Moon. As of 2026-10-15 the Moon is a Waxing Crescent at 21% illumination, and the next New Moon is November 9, 2026 (UTC). Pair it with a clear forecast and a site away from town lights.