Addis Ababa Stargazing & Astronomy Report

Key Sky Quality Metrics

SQM (mag/arcsec²)

18.14

Bortle class

Class 8 (Class 8)

Darkness Quotient

24%

Dataset

May 2026

City sky

Addis Ababa: The Practical Verdict

Addis Ababa, a significant city in Ethiopia, sits at a high altitude yet its skies are heavily influenced by urban light pollution, offering limited opportunities for stargazing. The overall astronomy quality is poor due to high light pollution, which significantly restricts what even the most dedicated astronomer can observe. The overwhelming light dome makes serious celestial observation challenging.

The Milky Way is entirely absent, erased by the bright urban sky background. Stargazers within Addis Ababa will primarily find solace in observing the Moon, planets, and brighter stars. The bright nebulae can be glimpsed with narrowband filters, but deep-sky observation is nearly impossible without escaping the city. For better stargazing conditions, one may consider driving north-west to a spot about 270 km away, where the sky is categorically darker, rated Bortle 3.

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

270 km NW sits about 270 km north west and reaches Bortle 3, roughly 26x darker.

Good dark window

Addis Ababa 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 Addis Ababa?

No. Addis Ababa is a Bortle Class 8 sky with SQM 18.14, 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 Addis Ababa?

Addis Ababa is Bortle Class 8 (SQM 18.14), a poor city sky for astronomy.

Is Addis Ababa good for stargazing?

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

Is Addis Ababa good for astrophotography?

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

What can you observe from Addis Ababa?

Primary targets from Addis Ababa 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 Addis Ababa?

The closest meaningfully darker mapped site is 19 km NE, about 19 km north east of Addis Ababa, reaching Bortle 6.

When is the sky darkest in Addis Ababa?

The sky over Addis Ababa is darkest around January, December.

Is light pollution in Addis Ababa getting better or worse?

The long-term trend for Addis Ababa is gradually worsening, with the sky brightening by about 0.10 SQM per year.

• 19 km NE

  Direction

  NE

  Distance (km)

  19.4

  SQM

  19.80

  Bortle

  6

• 270 km NW

  Direction

  NW

  Distance (km)

  269.9

  SQM

  21.66

  Bortle

  3

• 267 km ENE

  Direction

  ENE

  Distance (km)

  266.7

  SQM

  21.59

  Bortle

  3