Stargazing guide
Stargazing in Tawau, Sabah, Malaysia
Tawau, Sabah, Malaysia has an estimated Bortle 5–6 sky (mid-sized city). The Milky Way core is highest after dark in April, at about 57°.
How dark the sky is around Tawau, Sabah, Malaysia, the nearest certified dark-sky places, when the Milky Way core is visible, and the next dark New Moon. Calculated for 4.24°, 117.89°.
Estimated sky glow
Milky Way core
Next New Moon
Dark-sky rating for Tawau
Tawau, Sabah, Malaysia is a mid-sized city (population about 372,615). 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 Tawau. Our list only includes genuine, publicly documented sites, so none is shown rather than guessed.
Milky Way season in Tawau
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 57°.
- The north celestial pole stands 4.2° above the horizon, so stars within 4° of it never set from here.
- About 53.7% 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 56.8° up, clearing the horizon haze comfortably.
- The Large Magellanic Cloud only reaches about 16.1° altitude, so it is a low, seasonal target rather than a year-round one.
- At 12 m elevation, roughly 0% 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 4.2° latitude generally needs about Kp 9.0.
Nearby places
Stargazing in Tawau: common questions
Is Tawau a good place for stargazing?
Tawau, Sabah, Malaysia 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 Tawau?
From Tawau, Sabah, Malaysia (4.24°, 117.89°) 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 57°. Moonlight, cloud and city lights still decide what you actually see.
What is the best night this month for stargazing near Tawau?
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.