Stargazing guide
Stargazing in Putnok, Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén, Hungary
Putnok, Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén, Hungary has an estimated Bortle 1–4 sky (small town). The Milky Way core never climbs 20° above the horizon during astronomical darkness from here.
How dark the sky is around Putnok, Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén, Hungary, the nearest certified dark-sky places, when the Milky Way core is visible, and the next dark New Moon. Calculated for 48.30°, 20.43°.
Estimated sky glow
Milky Way core
Next New Moon
Dark-sky rating for Putnok
Putnok, Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén, Hungary is a small town (population about 7,501). 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
- Konkoly Observatory (Piszkéstető) · observatory · about 58 km away
- Hortobágy Starry Sky Park · certified dark-sky place · about 98 km away
Milky Way season in Putnok
The Milky Way's bright core never climbs 20° above the horizon during astronomical darkness from Putnok; the fainter band is still visible from a dark site.
- The north celestial pole stands 48.3° above the horizon, so stars within 48° of it never set from here.
- About 87.3% 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 12.7° up, staying low, so a clear southern horizon matters.
- At 178 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 55% illumination. Aurora at 48.3° latitude generally needs about Kp 6.2.
Nearby places
Stargazing in Putnok: common questions
Is Putnok a good place for stargazing?
Putnok, Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén, Hungary 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). The nearest certified dark-sky place or observatory in our registry is Konkoly Observatory (Piszkéstető), about 58 km away.
When can you see the Milky Way from Putnok?
From Putnok, Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén, Hungary 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 Putnok?
The darkest nights fall around the New Moon. As of 2026-10-19 the Moon is a First Quarter at 55% illumination, and the next New Moon is November 9, 2026 (UTC). Pair it with a clear forecast and a site away from town lights.