Stargazing guide
Stargazing in Wadi Musa, Ma’an, Jordan
Wadi Musa, Ma’an, Jordan has an estimated Bortle 1–4 sky (small town). The Milky Way core is highest after dark in April, at about 31°.
How dark the sky is around Wadi Musa, Ma’an, Jordan, the nearest certified dark-sky places, when the Milky Way core is visible, and the next dark New Moon. Calculated for 30.32°, 35.48°.
Estimated sky glow
Milky Way core
Next New Moon
Dark-sky rating for Wadi Musa
Wadi Musa, Ma’an, Jordan is a small town (population about 14,000). 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
- Ramon Crater Dark Sky Park · certified dark-sky place · about 72 km away
- Wise Observatory · observatory · about 75 km away
- Wadi Rum Night Sky Area · certified dark-sky place · about 83 km away
Milky Way season in Wadi Musa
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 April at about 31°.
- The north celestial pole stands 30.3° above the horizon, so stars within 30° of it never set from here.
- About 75.2% 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 30.7° up, staying low, so a clear southern horizon matters.
- At 1127 m elevation, roughly 12% of the atmosphere's mass is already below you, which measurably reduces extinction near the horizon.
Tonight and aurora
As of November 6, 2026 (UTC) the Moon is a Waning Crescent at 7% illumination. Aurora at 30.3° latitude generally needs about Kp 9.0.
Nearby places
Stargazing in Wadi Musa: common questions
Is Wadi Musa a good place for stargazing?
Wadi Musa, Ma’an, Jordan 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 Ramon Crater Dark Sky Park, about 72 km away.
When can you see the Milky Way from Wadi Musa?
From Wadi Musa, Ma’an, Jordan (30.32°, 35.48°) 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 April, reaching about 31°. Moonlight, cloud and city lights still decide what you actually see.
What is the best night this month for stargazing near Wadi Musa?
The darkest nights fall around the New Moon. As of 2026-11-06 the Moon is a Waning Crescent at 7% illumination, and the next New Moon is November 9, 2026 (UTC). Pair it with a clear forecast and a site away from town lights.