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Stargazing guide

Stargazing in Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea

Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea has an estimated Bortle 5–6 sky (mid-sized city). The Milky Way core is highest after dark in June, at about 24°.

How dark the sky is around Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea, the nearest certified dark-sky places, when the Milky Way core is visible, and the next dark New Moon. Calculated for 37.44°, 127.14°.

Estimated sky glow

Bortle 5–6
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Milky Way core

June
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Next New Moon

November 9, 2026
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Dark-sky rating for Seongnam-si

Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea is a mid-sized city (population about 914,832). 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 Seongnam-si. Our list only includes genuine, publicly documented sites, so none is shown rather than guessed.

Milky Way season in Seongnam-si

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 April, May, June, July, August, peaking in June at about 24°.

  • The north celestial pole stands 37.4° above the horizon, so stars within 37° of it never set from here.
  • About 80.4% 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 23.6° up, staying low, so a clear southern horizon matters.
  • At 80 m elevation, roughly 1% 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 Waxing Gibbous at 62% illumination. Aurora at 37.4° latitude generally needs about Kp 9.0.

Nearby places

Stargazing in Seongnam-si: common questions

Is Seongnam-si a good place for stargazing?

Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea 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 Seongnam-si?

From Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea (37.44°, 127.14°) the Milky Way's bright core climbs at least 20° above the horizon during astronomical darkness in April, May, June, July, August. It peaks in June, reaching about 24°. Moonlight, cloud and city lights still decide what you actually see.

What is the best night this month for stargazing near Seongnam-si?

The darkest nights fall around the New Moon. As of 2026-10-19 the Moon is a Waxing Gibbous at 62% illumination, and the next New Moon is November 9, 2026 (UTC). Pair it with a clear forecast and a site away from town lights.