Cairo Stargazing & Astronomy Report

Key Sky Quality Metrics

SQM (mag/arcsec²)

17.13

Bortle class

Class 9 (Class 9)

Darkness Quotient

17%

Dataset

July 2026

Inner city sky

Cairo: The Practical Verdict

Cairo, a global metropolis located in Egypt, endures extreme light pollution, casting a severe urban sky over its vast landscape. Stargazing here is notably impeded; the predominant glow renders the Milky Way invisible. The primary restrictive factor is the pervasive urban lighting.

Within this environment, your best observational targets will be bright, such as the Moon, planets, and prominent stars. These can still be appreciated, and narrowband imaging may offer limited success. However, deep-sky objects like faint nebulae and galaxies remain elusive; they simply aren't feasible from this site.

For those seeking a better stargazing experience, North Sinai presents the best opportunity for a significant upgrade. Located to the north-east, around 215 km away, this area offers a considerably darker sky under Bortle 3 conditions.

At a Glance

Overall

Severe urban sky - This is a severely light-polluted urban sky. Only the Moon, planets, bright stars, and a few specialist targets remain practical.

Milky Way

Not visible - The Milky Way is not visible from this sky.

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

North Sinai sits about 215 km north east and reaches Bortle 3, roughly 62x darker.

Good dark window

Cairo's longest dark windows fall in December and January, with the shortest nights around June and July. Plan deep-sky sessions around the autumn and winter months for the best combination of long nights and true astronomical darkness.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you see the Milky Way from Cairo?

No. Cairo is a Bortle Class 9 sky with SQM 17.13, 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 Cairo?

Cairo is Bortle Class 9 (SQM 17.13), a severe urban sky for astronomy.

Is Cairo good for stargazing?

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

Is Cairo good for astrophotography?

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

What can you observe from Cairo?

Primary targets from Cairo 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 Cairo?

The closest meaningfully darker mapped site is Al Zohor District Village, Faiyum, about 79 km south of Cairo, reaching Bortle 7.

When is the sky darkest in Cairo?

The sky over Cairo is darkest around January, December.

Is light pollution in Cairo getting better or worse?

There is not yet enough long-term data to give a confident trend for Cairo.

• Al Zohor District Village, Faiyum

  Direction

  S

  Distance (km)

  79

  SQM

  19.55

  Bortle

  7

• Damas, Ad Daqahliyya

  Direction

  ESE

  Distance (km)

  86

  SQM

  19.47

  Bortle

  7

• Western

  Direction

  NNW

  Distance (km)

  101.2

  SQM

  19.78

  Bortle

  6

• أبو عياد, Eastern

  Direction

  NE

  Distance (km)

  103.4

  SQM

  19.47

  Bortle

  7

• North Sinai

  Direction

  NE

  Distance (km)

  215

  SQM

  21.61

  Bortle

  3

• South Sinai

  Direction

  ESE

  Distance (km)

  268.8

  SQM

  21.19

  Bortle

  4