Addis Ababa Stargazing & Astronomy Report

Key Sky Quality Metrics

SQM (mag/arcsec²)

18.42

Bortle class

Class 8 (Class 8)

Darkness Quotient

27%

Dataset

August 2026

City sky

Addis Ababa: The Practical Verdict

Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia, has a sky affected by high light pollution. Astronomical observations from here are significantly limited by the bright urban sky, offering a poor city sky for stargazing. The overwhelming artificial lighting suppresses most celestial sights.

The Milky Way is completely obscured, leaving only the Moon, bright stars, and major planets as visible targets. Narrowband imaging can be attempted with care, focusing on brighter nebulae. Deep-sky objects and faint nebulae are best left avoided due to the city's intense sky glow. The south-south-east horizon is the brightest, with the north-north-east being somewhat clearer, though differences are marginal.

For those seeking significantly better skies, a drive to Qunxa Foqo in the Afar Region, around 280 km north-east, offers a Bortle 2 darkness level. Such trips are recommended for serious deep-sky 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

Qunxa Foqo (Unda fo'o), Afar Region sits about 276 km north east and reaches Bortle 2, roughly 21x 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 18.42, 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 18.42), 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 Tora, Central Ethiopia Regional State, about 133 km south south west of Addis Ababa, reaching Bortle 4.

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.

• Tora, Central Ethiopia Regional State

  Direction

  SSW

  Distance (km)

  133.3

  SQM

  20.83

  Bortle

  4

• Asciani, Oromia Region

  Direction

  WNW

  Distance (km)

  171

  SQM

  20.49

  Bortle

  5

• Qunxa Foqo (Unda fo'o), Afar Region

  Direction

  NE

  Distance (km)

  275.9

  SQM

  21.70

  Bortle

  2