NamibRand Dark Sky ReserveExample page

The best nights to stay, under the NamibRand Nature Reserve sky.

NamibRand Nature Reserve, Namibia
Bortle 1 (estimated) · among the darkest skies on Earth
90-night window

Your standout nightnext 90 nights

Thu Aug 13Excellent

Milky Way core high & dark

New moon, 0% lit

Look west-southwest, about 40 degrees up

The single best night to be here.

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Sky compass. Milky Way core to the west-southwest, about 40 degrees above the horizon.

rim = horizoncenter = overhead

The next 90 nights24 worth travelling for

Next 90 nights, NamibRand Nature Reserve, Namibiadarkness from moon phase, Milky Way core, and rated meteor peaksastronomy only

Dates
  • Sun Jul 19Milky Way core high & darkGreat

    Clear skies likely

    Sky compass. Milky Way core to the west-southwest, about 60 degrees above the horizon.

    Look west-southwest, about 60 degrees up

    rim = horizoncenter = overhead

    Why Great?

    Dark enough for the Milky Way core, with only some moonlight (20% lit).

  • Mon Jul 20Waxing, 29% litLimited

    Clear skies likely

    Why Limited?

    A quieter night with the moon 29% lit: fine for bright stars, not for the faintest sights.

  • Tue Jul 21Waxing, 39% litLimited

    Clear skies likely

    Why Limited?

    A quieter night with the moon 39% lit: fine for bright stars, not for the faintest sights.

  • Wed Jul 22Waxing, 50% litLimited

    Clear skies likely

    Why Limited?

    Moonlight (50% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.

  • Thu Jul 23Waxing, 60% litLimited

    Clear skies likely

    Why Limited?

    Moonlight (60% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.

  • Fri Jul 24Waxing, 70% litLimited

    Clear skies likely

    Why Limited?

    Moonlight (70% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.

  • Sat Jul 25Waxing, 80% litLimited

    Clear skies likely

    Why Limited?

    Moonlight (80% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.

Show the remaining 83 nights · 23 more worth travelling for, including the best night (Thu Aug 13)
  • Sun Jul 26Waxing, 87% litLimited

    Clear skies likely

    Why Limited?

    Moonlight (87% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.

  • Mon Jul 27Waxing, 94% litLimited

    Clear skies likely

    Why Limited?

    Moonlight (94% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.

  • Tue Jul 28Waxing, 98% litLimited

    Clear skies likely

    Why Limited?

    Moonlight (98% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.

  • Wed Jul 29Full moon - bright moonlit sky & moonriseBright moon

    Clear skies likely

    Why Bright moon?

    The moon is 100% lit, which washes out the Milky Way and faint stars.

  • Thu Jul 30Full moon - bright moonlit sky & moonriseBright moon

    Cloudy

    Why Bright moon?

    The moon is 100% lit, which washes out the Milky Way and faint stars.

  • Fri Jul 31Waning, 97% litLimited

    Cloudy

    Why Limited?

    Moonlight (97% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.

  • Sat Aug 1Waning, 93% litLimited

    Partly cloudy

    Why Limited?

    Moonlight (93% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.

  • Sun Aug 2Waning, 86% litLimited

    Why Limited?

    Moonlight (86% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.

  • Mon Aug 3Waning, 78% litLimited

    Why Limited?

    Moonlight (78% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.

  • Tue Aug 4Waning, 68% litLimited

    Why Limited?

    Moonlight (68% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.

  • Wed Aug 5Waning, 58% litLimited

    Why Limited?

    Moonlight (58% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.

  • Thu Aug 6Waning, 48% litLimited

    Why Limited?

    Moonlight (48% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.

  • Fri Aug 7Waning, 37% litLimited

    Why Limited?

    A quieter night with the moon 37% lit: fine for bright stars, not for the faintest sights.

  • Sat Aug 8Waning, 27% litLimited

    Why Limited?

    A quieter night with the moon 27% lit: fine for bright stars, not for the faintest sights.

  • Sun Aug 9Milky Way core high & darkGreat
    Sky compass. Milky Way core to the west-southwest, about 45 degrees above the horizon.

    Look west-southwest, about 45 degrees up

    rim = horizoncenter = overhead

    Why Great?

    Dark enough for the Milky Way core, with only some moonlight (18% lit).

  • Mon Aug 10Milky Way core high & darkGreat
    Sky compass. Milky Way core to the west-southwest, about 45 degrees above the horizon.

    Look west-southwest, about 45 degrees up

    rim = horizoncenter = overhead

    Why Great?

    Dark enough for the Milky Way core, with only some moonlight (11% lit).

  • Tue Aug 11Milky Way core high & darkGreat
    Sky compass. Milky Way core to the west-southwest, about 40 degrees above the horizon.

    Look west-southwest, about 40 degrees up

    rim = horizoncenter = overhead

    Why Great?

    Dark enough for the Milky Way core, with only some moonlight (5% lit).

  • Wed Aug 12Milky Way core high & darkExcellent
    Sky compass. Milky Way core to the west-southwest, about 40 degrees above the horizon.

    Look west-southwest, about 40 degrees up

    rim = horizoncenter = overhead

    Why Excellent?

    New moon plus the Milky Way core high: the darkest kind of night here.

  • Thu Aug 13Milky Way core high & darkBestExcellent
    Sky compass. Milky Way core to the west-southwest, about 40 degrees above the horizon.

    Look west-southwest, about 40 degrees up

    rim = horizoncenter = overhead

    Why Excellent?

    New moon plus the Milky Way core high: the darkest kind of night here.

  • Fri Aug 14Milky Way core high & darkExcellent
    Sky compass. Milky Way core to the west-southwest, about 40 degrees above the horizon.

    Look west-southwest, about 40 degrees up

    rim = horizoncenter = overhead

    Why Excellent?

    New moon plus the Milky Way core high: the darkest kind of night here.

  • Sat Aug 15Milky Way core high & darkGreat
    Sky compass. Milky Way core to the west-southwest, about 40 degrees above the horizon.

    Look west-southwest, about 40 degrees up

    rim = horizoncenter = overhead

    Why Great?

    Dark enough for the Milky Way core, with only some moonlight (4% lit).

  • Sun Aug 16Milky Way core high & darkGreat
    Sky compass. Milky Way core to the west-southwest, about 40 degrees above the horizon.

    Look west-southwest, about 40 degrees up

    rim = horizoncenter = overhead

    Why Great?

    Dark enough for the Milky Way core, with only some moonlight (9% lit).

  • Mon Aug 17Milky Way core high & darkGreat
    Sky compass. Milky Way core to the west-southwest, about 35 degrees above the horizon.

    Look west-southwest, about 35 degrees up

    rim = horizoncenter = overhead

    Why Great?

    Dark enough for the Milky Way core, with only some moonlight (16% lit).

  • Tue Aug 18Milky Way core high & darkGreat
    Sky compass. Milky Way core to the west-southwest, about 35 degrees above the horizon.

    Look west-southwest, about 35 degrees up

    rim = horizoncenter = overhead

    Why Great?

    Dark enough for the Milky Way core, with only some moonlight (24% lit).

  • Wed Aug 19Waxing, 34% litLimited

    Why Limited?

    A quieter night with the moon 34% lit: fine for bright stars, not for the faintest sights.

  • Thu Aug 20Waxing, 44% litLimited

    Why Limited?

    Moonlight (44% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.

  • Fri Aug 21Waxing, 55% litLimited

    Why Limited?

    Moonlight (55% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.

  • Sat Aug 22Waxing, 65% litLimited

    Why Limited?

    Moonlight (65% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.

  • Sun Aug 23Waxing, 75% litLimited

    Why Limited?

    Moonlight (75% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.

  • Mon Aug 24Waxing, 84% litLimited

    Why Limited?

    Moonlight (84% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.

  • Tue Aug 25Waxing, 91% litLimited

    Why Limited?

    Moonlight (91% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.

  • Wed Aug 26Waxing, 96% litLimited

    Why Limited?

    Moonlight (96% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.

  • Thu Aug 27Full moon - bright moonlit sky & moonriseBright moon

    Why Bright moon?

    The moon is 99% lit, which washes out the Milky Way and faint stars.

  • Fri Aug 28Full moon - bright moonlit sky & moonriseBright moon

    Why Bright moon?

    The moon is 100% lit, which washes out the Milky Way and faint stars.

  • Sat Aug 29Waning, 99% litLimited

    Why Limited?

    Moonlight (99% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.

  • Sun Aug 30Waning, 95% litLimited

    Why Limited?

    Moonlight (95% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.

  • Mon Aug 31Waning, 90% litLimited

    Why Limited?

    Moonlight (90% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.

  • Tue Sep 1Waning, 82% litLimited

    Why Limited?

    Moonlight (82% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.

  • Wed Sep 2Waning, 74% litLimited

    Why Limited?

    Moonlight (74% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.

  • Thu Sep 3Waning, 64% litLimited

    Why Limited?

    Moonlight (64% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.

  • Fri Sep 4Waning, 53% litLimited

    Why Limited?

    Moonlight (53% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.

  • Sat Sep 5Waning, 43% litLimited

    Why Limited?

    Moonlight (43% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.

  • Sun Sep 6Waning, 32% litLimited

    Why Limited?

    A quieter night with the moon 32% lit: fine for bright stars, not for the faintest sights.

  • Mon Sep 7Milky Way core high & darkGood
    Sky compass. Milky Way core to the west-southwest, about 20 degrees above the horizon.

    Look west-southwest, about 20 degrees up

    rim = horizoncenter = overhead

    Why Good?

    The Milky Way core is up, with some moonlight (23% lit) softening it.

  • Tue Sep 8Milky Way core high & darkGood
    Sky compass. Milky Way core to the west-southwest, about 20 degrees above the horizon.

    Look west-southwest, about 20 degrees up

    rim = horizoncenter = overhead

    Why Good?

    The Milky Way core is up, with some moonlight (15% lit) softening it.

  • Wed Sep 9Milky Way core high & darkGood
    Sky compass. Milky Way core to the west-southwest, about 20 degrees above the horizon.

    Look west-southwest, about 20 degrees up

    rim = horizoncenter = overhead

    Why Good?

    The Milky Way core is up, with some moonlight (8% lit) softening it.

  • Thu Sep 10Milky Way core high & darkGood
    Sky compass. Milky Way core to the west-southwest, about 15 degrees above the horizon.

    Look west-southwest, about 15 degrees up

    rim = horizoncenter = overhead

    Why Good?

    The Milky Way core is up, with some moonlight (3% lit) softening it.

  • Fri Sep 11Milky Way core high & darkGreat
    Sky compass. Milky Way core to the west-southwest, about 15 degrees above the horizon.

    Look west-southwest, about 15 degrees up

    rim = horizoncenter = overhead

    Why Great?

    Dark enough for the Milky Way core, with an essentially moonless sky.

  • Sat Sep 12Milky Way core high & darkGreat
    Sky compass. Milky Way core to the west-southwest, about 15 degrees above the horizon.

    Look west-southwest, about 15 degrees up

    rim = horizoncenter = overhead

    Why Great?

    Dark enough for the Milky Way core, with an essentially moonless sky.

  • Sun Sep 13Milky Way core high & darkGreat
    Sky compass. Milky Way core to the west-southwest, about 15 degrees above the horizon.

    Look west-southwest, about 15 degrees up

    rim = horizoncenter = overhead

    Why Great?

    Dark enough for the Milky Way core, with an essentially moonless sky.

  • Mon Sep 14Milky Way core high & darkGood
    Sky compass. Milky Way core to the west-southwest, about 15 degrees above the horizon.

    Look west-southwest, about 15 degrees up

    rim = horizoncenter = overhead

    Why Good?

    The Milky Way core is up, with some moonlight (6% lit) softening it.

  • Tue Sep 15Milky Way core high & darkGood
    Sky compass. Milky Way core to the west-southwest, about 15 degrees above the horizon.

    Look west-southwest, about 15 degrees up

    rim = horizoncenter = overhead

    Why Good?

    The Milky Way core is up, with some moonlight (12% lit) softening it.

  • Wed Sep 16Milky Way core high & darkGood
    Sky compass. Milky Way core to the west-southwest, about 10 degrees above the horizon.

    Look west-southwest, about 10 degrees up

    rim = horizoncenter = overhead

    Why Good?

    The Milky Way core is up, with some moonlight (20% lit) softening it.

  • Thu Sep 17Waxing, 29% litLimited

    Why Limited?

    A quieter night with the moon 29% lit: fine for bright stars, not for the faintest sights.

  • Fri Sep 18Waxing, 39% litLimited

    Why Limited?

    A quieter night with the moon 39% lit: fine for bright stars, not for the faintest sights.

  • Sat Sep 19Waxing, 49% litLimited

    Why Limited?

    Moonlight (49% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.

  • Sun Sep 20Waxing, 60% litLimited

    Why Limited?

    Moonlight (60% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.

  • Mon Sep 21Waxing, 70% litLimited

    Why Limited?

    Moonlight (70% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.

  • Tue Sep 22Waxing, 79% litLimited

    Why Limited?

    Moonlight (79% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.

  • Wed Sep 23Waxing, 87% litLimited

    Why Limited?

    Moonlight (87% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.

  • Thu Sep 24Waxing, 93% litLimited

    Why Limited?

    Moonlight (93% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.

  • Fri Sep 25Waxing, 98% litLimited

    Why Limited?

    Moonlight (98% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.

  • Sat Sep 26Full moon - bright moonlit sky & moonriseBright moon

    Why Bright moon?

    The moon is 100% lit, which washes out the Milky Way and faint stars.

  • Sun Sep 27Full moon - bright moonlit sky & moonriseBright moon

    Why Bright moon?

    The moon is 100% lit, which washes out the Milky Way and faint stars.

  • Mon Sep 28Waning, 97% litLimited

    Why Limited?

    Moonlight (97% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.

  • Tue Sep 29Waning, 93% litLimited

    Why Limited?

    Moonlight (93% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.

  • Wed Sep 30Waning, 86% litLimited

    Why Limited?

    Moonlight (86% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.

  • Thu Oct 1Waning, 78% litLimited

    Why Limited?

    Moonlight (78% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.

  • Fri Oct 2Waning, 69% litLimited

    Why Limited?

    Moonlight (69% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.

  • Sat Oct 3Waning, 59% litLimited

    Why Limited?

    Moonlight (59% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.

  • Sun Oct 4Waning, 48% litLimited

    Why Limited?

    Moonlight (48% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.

  • Mon Oct 5Waning, 38% litLimited

    Why Limited?

    A quieter night with the moon 38% lit: fine for bright stars, not for the faintest sights.

  • Tue Oct 6Waning, 28% litLimited

    Why Limited?

    A quieter night with the moon 28% lit: fine for bright stars, not for the faintest sights.

  • Wed Oct 7Waning, 19% litLimited

    Why Limited?

    A quiet night here: the moon 19% lit, but no dark-sky event (Milky Way core, new moon, meteor peak) lines up tonight.

  • Thu Oct 8Waning, 11% litLimited

    Why Limited?

    A quiet night here: the moon 11% lit, but no dark-sky event (Milky Way core, new moon, meteor peak) lines up tonight.

  • Fri Oct 9Waning, 5% litLimited

    Why Limited?

    A quiet night here: the moon 5% lit, but no dark-sky event (Milky Way core, new moon, meteor peak) lines up tonight.

  • Sat Oct 10New moon - darkest skiesGood

    Why Good?

    Moon 2% lit: the brighter stars show well, the faintest sights are muted.

  • Sun Oct 11New moon - darkest skiesGood

    Why Good?

    Moon 0% lit: the brighter stars show well, the faintest sights are muted.

  • Mon Oct 12New moon - darkest skiesGood

    Why Good?

    Moon 1% lit: the brighter stars show well, the faintest sights are muted.

  • Tue Oct 13Waxing, 4% litLimited

    Why Limited?

    A quiet night here: the moon 4% lit, but no dark-sky event (Milky Way core, new moon, meteor peak) lines up tonight.

  • Wed Oct 14Waxing, 8% litLimited

    Why Limited?

    A quiet night here: the moon 8% lit, but no dark-sky event (Milky Way core, new moon, meteor peak) lines up tonight.

  • Thu Oct 15Waxing, 15% litLimited

    Why Limited?

    A quiet night here: the moon 15% lit, but no dark-sky event (Milky Way core, new moon, meteor peak) lines up tonight.

  • Fri Oct 16Waxing, 24% litLimited

    Why Limited?

    A quieter night with the moon 24% lit: fine for bright stars, not for the faintest sights.

Cloud cover shown for the next 14 nights; darkness is forecast for all 90 nights.

How to read this: each night shows how dark the sky will be from moonlight. Excellent is the darkest kind of night; Bright moon is the brightest. Limited nights can still be nearly moonless, they just do not line up with a headline dark-sky event like the Milky Way core, a new moon, or a meteor peak. These ratings describe darkness, not whether it will be cloudy. Tap any night for its full story.

The sky compass: the rim is your horizon, the center is straight overhead. A dot marks the Milky Way core; a diamond marks a meteor shower's radiant.

  • ExcellentNew moon, Milky Way core high and dark
  • GreatDark sky, Milky Way visible, faint moon
  • GoodDark enough for real stargazing
  • Bright moonA moonlit night, still worth a look
  • LimitedBright stars only