Abidjan Stargazing & Astronomy Report

Key Sky Quality Metrics

SQM (mag/arcsec²)

18.48

Bortle class

Class 8 (Class 8)

Darkness Quotient

27%

Dataset

August 2026

City sky

Abidjan: The Practical Verdict

Abidjan, a major city in Côte d'Ivoire, is characterised by high light pollution typical of a large urban area. The light-drenched sky severely limits visual astronomy, rendering it a poor city for stargazing. The bright cityscape erases the Milky Way entirely, with the eastern horizon especially overwhelmed by light.

Visual observing from Abidjan is best focused on the Moon, planets, and bright stars. Double stars may provide some visual interest, but deep-sky targets are overwhelmingly washed out and impractical. Narrowband imaging focused on the brightest nebulae might yield some results, but true deep-sky astrophotography is heavily curtailed by the sky's brightness.

For a significantly darker sky, consider travelling to Bofrébo in Lacs, which lies to the north-north-west. At approximately 165 km away, it offers much improved conditions with a Bortle 3 sky, making it a worthwhile option for serious deep-sky observation enthusiasts.

At a Glance

Overall

Poor city sky - This is a poor city sky. The Milky Way is not visible and most deep-sky observing is unrealistic from the location itself.

Milky Way

Not visible - The Milky Way is erased by the bright urban sky background.

Best targets from here

Moon, planets, bright stars, double stars, solar system events, narrowband imaging only with care

Do not prioritise

visual deep-sky observing, broadband galaxies, reflection nebulae, widefield Milky Way

Best nearby upgrade

Bofrébo, Lacs sits about 163 km north north west and reaches Bortle 3, roughly 14x darker.

Good dark window

Abidjan retains astronomical darkness throughout the year, so seasonality is less extreme than at higher latitudes. The main limitation is light pollution, not the length of the dark window.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you see the Milky Way from Abidjan?

No. Abidjan is a Bortle Class 8 sky with SQM 18.48, so the Milky Way is not visible from the city. For Milky Way photography, look for a Bortle 4 or darker site.

What Bortle class is Abidjan?

Abidjan is Bortle Class 8 (SQM 18.48), a poor city sky for astronomy.

Is Abidjan good for stargazing?

Not for serious deep-sky observing. Abidjan is a poor city sky where the Moon, planets, and a handful of bright targets are the realistic options from the city itself.

Is Abidjan good for astrophotography?

Broadband deep-sky imaging is heavily compromised from Abidjan and a Bortle 4 or darker site is strongly recommended. Even narrowband imaging is difficult from Abidjan without careful processing.

What can you observe from Abidjan?

Primary targets from Abidjan include Moon, planets, bright stars, double stars, solar system events. Targets such as visual deep-sky observing, broadband galaxies, reflection nebulae are not realistic from this sky.

Where are darker skies near Abidjan?

The closest meaningfully darker mapped site is Petit Badien, Lagunes, about 68 km west of Abidjan, reaching Bortle 4.

When is the sky darkest in Abidjan?

The sky over Abidjan is darkest around January, November.

Is light pollution in Abidjan getting better or worse?

The long-term trend for Abidjan is gradually worsening, with the sky brightening by about 0.05 SQM per year.

• Petit Badien, Lagunes

  Direction

  W

  Distance (km)

  68.1

  SQM

  20.93

  Bortle

  4

• Songon, Abidjan

  Direction

  WSW

  Distance (km)

  20

  SQM

  19.43

  Bortle

  7

• Biéby, Lagunes

  Direction

  NNE

  Distance (km)

  87.1

  SQM

  21.16

  Bortle

  4

• Bofrébo, Lacs

  Direction

  NNW

  Distance (km)

  162.7

  SQM

  21.33

  Bortle

  3

• Jomoro Municipal District, Western Region

  Direction

  E

  Distance (km)

  163.3

  SQM

  21.03

  Bortle

  4

• Wassa Dunkwa, Western Region

  Direction

  ENE

  Distance (km)

  167.6

  SQM

  21.00

  Bortle

  4