Stargazing guide
Stargazing in Qom, Qom Province, Iran
Qom, Qom Province, Iran has an estimated Bortle 5–6 sky (mid-sized city). The Milky Way core is highest after dark in June, at about 26°.
How dark the sky is around Qom, Qom Province, Iran, the nearest certified dark-sky places, when the Milky Way core is visible, and the next dark New Moon. Calculated for 34.64°, 50.88°.
Estimated sky glow
Milky Way core
Next New Moon
Dark-sky rating for Qom
Qom, Qom Province, Iran is a mid-sized city (population about 900,000). 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
- Iranian National Observatory · observatory · about 115 km away
Milky Way season in Qom
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 June at about 26°.
- The north celestial pole stands 34.6° above the horizon, so stars within 35° of it never set from here.
- About 78.4% 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 26.4° up, staying low, so a clear southern horizon matters.
- At 935 m elevation, roughly 10% 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 40% illumination. Aurora at 34.6° latitude generally needs about Kp 9.0.
Nearby places
Stargazing in Qom: common questions
Is Qom a good place for stargazing?
Qom, Qom Province, Iran 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 Iranian National Observatory, about 115 km away.
When can you see the Milky Way from Qom?
From Qom, Qom Province, Iran (34.64°, 50.88°) 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 June, reaching about 26°. Moonlight, cloud and city lights still decide what you actually see.
What is the best night this month for stargazing near Qom?
The darkest nights fall around the New Moon. As of 2026-10-17 the Moon is a Waxing Crescent at 40% illumination, and the next New Moon is November 9, 2026 (UTC). Pair it with a clear forecast and a site away from town lights.