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Stargazing guide

Stargazing in Yerevan, Yerevan, Armenia

Yerevan, Yerevan, Armenia has an estimated Bortle 7–9 sky (large metropolitan area). The Milky Way core is highest after dark in June, at about 21°.

How dark the sky is around Yerevan, Yerevan, Armenia, the nearest certified dark-sky places, when the Milky Way core is visible, and the next dark New Moon. Calculated for 40.18°, 44.51°.

Estimated sky glow

Bortle 7–9
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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 Yerevan

Yerevan, Yerevan, Armenia is a large metropolitan area (population about 1,144,700). A place this size typically has a bright inner-city sky: only the Moon, planets and the brightest stars show from inside the urban core. That is an estimate of Bortle class 7–9 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

  • Byurakan Observatory · observatory · about 26 km away

Milky Way season in Yerevan

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, peaking in June at about 21°.

  • The north celestial pole stands 40.2° above the horizon, so stars within 40° of it never set from here.
  • About 82.3% 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 20.8° up, staying low, so a clear southern horizon matters.
  • At 1002 m elevation, roughly 11% of the atmosphere's mass is already below you, which measurably reduces extinction near the horizon.

Tonight and aurora

As of October 14, 2026 (UTC) the Moon is a Waxing Crescent at 17% illumination. Aurora at 40.2° latitude generally needs about Kp 8.9.

Stargazing in Yerevan: common questions

Is Yerevan a good place for stargazing?

Yerevan, Yerevan, Armenia is a large metropolitan area, so its typical sky is bright inner-city sky: only the Moon, planets and the brightest stars show from inside the urban core (an estimate of Bortle 7–9 from population, not a measurement). The nearest certified dark-sky place or observatory in our registry is Byurakan Observatory, about 26 km away.

When can you see the Milky Way from Yerevan?

From Yerevan, Yerevan, Armenia (40.18°, 44.51°) the Milky Way's bright core climbs at least 20° above the horizon during astronomical darkness in April, May, June, July. It peaks in June, reaching about 21°. Moonlight, cloud and city lights still decide what you actually see.

What is the best night this month for stargazing near Yerevan?

The darkest nights fall around the New Moon. As of 2026-10-14 the Moon is a Waxing Crescent at 17% illumination, and the next New Moon is November 9, 2026 (UTC). Pair it with a clear forecast and a site away from town lights.