Dakar Stargazing & Astronomy Report

Key Sky Quality Metrics

SQM (mag/arcsec²)

18.51

Bortle class

Class 8 (Class 8)

Darkness Quotient

28%

Dataset

May 2026

City sky

Dakar: The Practical Verdict

Dakar, the bustling capital of Senegal, lies in the dense urban expanse of the Dakar Region. The stargazing conditions here are characterised by high light pollution, making the overall quality poor for observing. The primary limiting factor is the bright city sky that blots out fainter celestial objects.

Observing in Dakar is limited to the brightest celestial objects. You can focus on the Moon, planets, and double stars, while solar system events can also provide some interest. For deeper sky pursuits, the pervasive urban glow makes visual deep-sky observing and widefield Milky Way views impossible. Any ambitious astrophotography should stick to narrowband imaging to combat the urban skyglow.

For those looking for improved conditions, heading to Ndangane Campement in the Fatick Region, located to the south-east, offers a substantial upgrade. There, the skies are much darker, allowing for more serious deep-sky observing and a clearer view of the Milky Way.

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

Ndangane Campement, Fatick Region sits about 108 km south east and reaches Bortle 3, roughly 14x darker.

Good dark window

Dakar 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 Dakar?

No. Dakar is a Bortle Class 8 sky with SQM 18.51, 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 Dakar?

Dakar is Bortle Class 8 (SQM 18.51), a poor city sky for astronomy.

Is Dakar good for stargazing?

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

Is Dakar good for astrophotography?

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

What can you observe from Dakar?

Primary targets from Dakar 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 Dakar?

The closest meaningfully darker mapped site is Daf 1, about 73 km east north east of Dakar, reaching Bortle 5.

When is the sky darkest in Dakar?

The sky over Dakar is darkest around January, December.

Is light pollution in Dakar getting better or worse?

Long-term light pollution over Dakar has been broadly stable across the available measurements.

• Ndangane Campement, Fatick Region

  Direction

  SE

  Distance (km)

  108.2

  SQM

  21.38

  Bortle

  3

• Daf 1

  Direction

  ENE

  Distance (km)

  72.7

  SQM

  20.37

  Bortle

  5

• Arrondissement des Almadies, Dakar Region

  Direction

  SW

  Distance (km)

  5

  SQM

  18.99

  Bortle

  7

• Ndiéganène, Fatick Region

  Direction

  SE

  Distance (km)

  171.8

  SQM

  21.59

  Bortle

  3