Stargazing forecast

Stargazing in Aoraki Mackenzie

International Dark Sky Reserve (Gold tier) · Canterbury, South Island, New Zealand

Spanning the Mackenzie Basin and Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park, this Gold tier reserve was certified in 2012 and covers over 4000 square kilometres of protected night sky.

Darkest skies this period

The darkest skies this period fall around the new moon on Mon Nov 9.

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Is Aoraki Mackenzie good for stargazing?

Spanning the Mackenzie Basin and Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park, this Gold tier reserve was certified in 2012 and covers over 4000 square kilometres of protected night sky. It is certified as an International Dark Sky Reserve (Gold tier) in Canterbury, South Island, New Zealand. Bortle 1 (estimated): among the darkest skies on Earth.

When is the best time to stargaze at Aoraki Mackenzie?

The darkest nights fall in the week around each new moon, when nothing washes out the sky. The Milky Way core climbs into view from March to September, reaching about 75 degrees above the horizon at its best in June. A new moon inside that window is the combination worth planning a trip around.

How is this forecast worked out?

The Bortle value above is estimated from satellite light-pollution data, not a site meter, and we label it as an estimate everywhere it appears. Darkness here is astronomy only, computed for these coordinates. Cloud cover is never blended into it.

The next 90 nights

Darkness only, computed from moon phase, Milky Way core visibility, and rated meteor peaks. No weather.

Each night is rated on how good the stargazing is: how dark the sky will be, and whether anything headline is out. Excellent, Great, Good, Limited.

What the ratings mean

A dark night with nothing particular out rates below a slightly brighter night when the Milky Way core is up: the rating is about what there is to see, not darkness on its own. Excellent is rare because it needs both at once, a new moon and the core above the horizon.

ExcellentDark AND a headline sight out: new moon with the Milky Way core up
GreatDark, with the Milky Way core or a strong meteor peak
GoodDark enough for real stargazing, nothing headline out
LimitedBright stars only

Separately, about the moon:

Bright moonThe moon is up and near full, so the sky is bright

Limited nights can still be nearly moonless, they just do not line up with a headline sight. Every rating is computed from moon phase, Milky Way core visibility and rated meteor peaks, for this exact location. 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.

Select dates

Sun Oct 18Waxing, 44% litLimited
Why Limited?
Moonlight (44% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.
Mon Oct 19Waxing, 54% litLimited
Why Limited?
Moonlight (54% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.
Tue Oct 20Waxing, 65% litLimited
Why Limited?
Moonlight (65% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.
Wed Oct 21Orionids meteor peak (~20/hr, washed out by moonlight)Limited
Orionids radiant: look east-northeast, about 5 degrees up
rim = horizoncenter = overhead
Why Limited?
A minor meteor peak from here; otherwise a quiet night.
Thu Oct 22Waxing, 83% litLimited
Why Limited?
Moonlight (83% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.
Fri Oct 23Waxing, 90% litLimited
Why Limited?
Moonlight (90% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.
Sat Oct 24Waxing, 96% litLimited
Why Limited?
Moonlight (96% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.

9 more nights worth travelling for83 nights in total

Sun Oct 25Full moon - bright moonlit sky & moonriseBright moon
Why Bright moon?
The moon is 99% lit, which washes out the Milky Way and faint stars.
Mon Oct 26Full moon - bright moonlit sky & moonriseBright moon
Why Bright moon?
The moon is 100% lit, which washes out the Milky Way and faint stars.
Tue Oct 27Waning, 99% litLimited
Why Limited?
Moonlight (99% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.
Wed Oct 28Waning, 95% litLimited
Why Limited?
Moonlight (95% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.
Thu Oct 29Waning, 90% litLimited
Why Limited?
Moonlight (90% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.
Fri Oct 30Waning, 83% litLimited
Why Limited?
Moonlight (83% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.
Sat Oct 31Waning, 74% litLimited
Why Limited?
Moonlight (74% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.
Sun Nov 1Waning, 64% litLimited
Why Limited?
Moonlight (64% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.
Mon Nov 2Waning, 54% litLimited
Why Limited?
Moonlight (54% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.
Tue Nov 3Waning, 43% litLimited
Why Limited?
Moonlight (43% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.
Wed Nov 4Waning, 33% litLimited
Why Limited?
A quieter night with the moon 33% lit: fine for bright stars, not for the faintest sights.
Thu Nov 5Waning, 23% litLimited
Why Limited?
A quieter night with the moon 23% lit: fine for bright stars, not for the faintest sights.
Fri Nov 6Waning, 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.
Sat Nov 7Waning, 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.
Sun Nov 8Waning, 3% litLimited
Why Limited?
A quiet night here: the moon 3% lit, but no dark-sky event (Milky Way core, new moon, meteor peak) lines up tonight.
Mon Nov 9New moon - darkest skiesGood
Why Good?
Moon 1% lit: the brighter stars show well, the faintest sights are muted.
Tue Nov 10New moon - darkest skiesGood
Why Good?
Moon 0% lit: the brighter stars show well, the faintest sights are muted.
Wed Nov 11New moon - darkest skiesGood
Why Good?
Moon 2% lit: the brighter stars show well, the faintest sights are muted.
Thu Nov 12Waxing, 6% litLimited
Why Limited?
A quiet night here: the moon 6% lit, but no dark-sky event (Milky Way core, new moon, meteor peak) lines up tonight.
Fri Nov 13Waxing, 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.
Sat Nov 14Waxing, 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.
Sun Nov 15Waxing, 28% litLimited
Why Limited?
A quieter night with the moon 28% lit: fine for bright stars, not for the faintest sights.
Mon Nov 16Waxing, 38% litLimited
Why Limited?
A quieter night with the moon 38% lit: fine for bright stars, not for the faintest sights.
Tue Nov 17Waxing, 49% litLimited
Why Limited?
Moonlight (49% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.
Wed Nov 18Waxing, 59% litLimited
Why Limited?
Moonlight (59% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.
Thu Nov 19Waxing, 69% litLimited
Why Limited?
Moonlight (69% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.
Fri Nov 20Waxing, 79% litLimited
Why Limited?
Moonlight (79% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.
Sat Nov 21Waxing, 87% litLimited
Why Limited?
Moonlight (87% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.
Sun Nov 22Waxing, 93% litLimited
Why Limited?
Moonlight (93% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.
Mon Nov 23Waxing, 97% litLimited
Why Limited?
Moonlight (97% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.
Tue Nov 24Full moon - bright moonlit sky & moonriseBright moon
Why Bright moon?
The moon is 100% lit, which washes out the Milky Way and faint stars.
Wed Nov 25Full moon - bright moonlit sky & moonriseBright moon
Why Bright moon?
The moon is 100% lit, which washes out the Milky Way and faint stars.
Thu Nov 26Waning, 98% litLimited
Why Limited?
Moonlight (98% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.
Fri Nov 27Waning, 93% litLimited
Why Limited?
Moonlight (93% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.
Sat Nov 28Waning, 87% litLimited
Why Limited?
Moonlight (87% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.
Sun Nov 29Waning, 79% litLimited
Why Limited?
Moonlight (79% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.
Mon Nov 30Waning, 70% litLimited
Why Limited?
Moonlight (70% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.
Tue Dec 1Waning, 60% litLimited
Why Limited?
Moonlight (60% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.
Wed Dec 2Waning, 49% litLimited
Why Limited?
Moonlight (49% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.
Thu Dec 3Waning, 38% litLimited
Why Limited?
A quieter night with the moon 38% lit: fine for bright stars, not for the faintest sights.
Fri Dec 4Waning, 28% litLimited
Why Limited?
A quieter night with the moon 28% lit: fine for bright stars, not for the faintest sights.
Sat Dec 5Waning, 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.
Sun Dec 6Waning, 12% litLimited
Why Limited?
A quiet night here: the moon 12% lit, but no dark-sky event (Milky Way core, new moon, meteor peak) lines up tonight.
Mon Dec 7Waning, 6% litLimited
Why Limited?
A quiet night here: the moon 6% lit, but no dark-sky event (Milky Way core, new moon, meteor peak) lines up tonight.
Tue Dec 8New moon - darkest skiesGood
Why Good?
Moon 2% lit: the brighter stars show well, the faintest sights are muted.
Wed Dec 9New moon - darkest skiesGood
Why Good?
Moon 0% lit: the brighter stars show well, the faintest sights are muted.
Thu Dec 10New moon - darkest skiesGood
Why Good?
Moon 1% lit: the brighter stars show well, the faintest sights are muted.
Fri Dec 11Waxing, 3% litLimited
Why Limited?
A quiet night here: the moon 3% lit, but no dark-sky event (Milky Way core, new moon, meteor peak) lines up tonight.
Sat Dec 12Waxing, 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.
Sun Dec 13Waxing, 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.
Mon Dec 14Geminids meteor peak (~120/hr, good)Limited
Geminids radiant: look north-northeast, about 10 degrees up
rim = horizoncenter = overhead
Why Limited?
A minor meteor peak from here; otherwise a quiet night.
Tue Dec 15Waxing, 33% litLimited
Why Limited?
A quieter night with the moon 33% lit: fine for bright stars, not for the faintest sights.
Wed Dec 16Waxing, 43% litLimited
Why Limited?
Moonlight (43% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.
Thu Dec 17Waxing, 54% litLimited
Why Limited?
Moonlight (54% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.
Fri Dec 18Waxing, 64% litLimited
Why Limited?
Moonlight (64% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.
Sat Dec 19Waxing, 74% litLimited
Why Limited?
Moonlight (74% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.
Sun Dec 20Waxing, 83% litLimited
Why Limited?
Moonlight (83% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.
Mon Dec 21Waxing, 90% litLimited
Why Limited?
Moonlight (90% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.
Tue Dec 22Waxing, 95% litLimited
Why Limited?
Moonlight (95% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.
Wed Dec 23Waxing, 99% litLimited
Why Limited?
Moonlight (99% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.
Thu Dec 24Full moon - bright moonlit sky & moonriseBright moon
Why Bright moon?
The moon is 100% lit, which washes out the Milky Way and faint stars.
Fri Dec 25Full moon - bright moonlit sky & moonriseBright moon
Why Bright moon?
The moon is 99% lit, which washes out the Milky Way and faint stars.
Sat Dec 26Waning, 96% litLimited
Why Limited?
Moonlight (96% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.
Sun Dec 27Waning, 90% litLimited
Why Limited?
Moonlight (90% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.
Mon Dec 28Waning, 83% litLimited
Why Limited?
Moonlight (83% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.
Tue Dec 29Waning, 75% litLimited
Why Limited?
Moonlight (75% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.
Wed Dec 30Waning, 65% litLimited
Why Limited?
Moonlight (65% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.
Thu Dec 31Waning, 55% litLimited
Why Limited?
Moonlight (55% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.
Fri Jan 1Waning, 44% litLimited
Why Limited?
Moonlight (44% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.
Sat Jan 2Waning, 34% litLimited
Why Limited?
A quieter night with the moon 34% lit: fine for bright stars, not for the faintest sights.
Sun Jan 3Waning, 24% litLimited
Why Limited?
A quieter night with the moon 24% lit: fine for bright stars, not for the faintest sights.
Mon Jan 4Waning, 16% litLimited
Why Limited?
A quiet night here: the moon 16% lit, but no dark-sky event (Milky Way core, new moon, meteor peak) lines up tonight.
Tue Jan 5Waning, 9% litLimited
Why Limited?
A quiet night here: the moon 9% lit, but no dark-sky event (Milky Way core, new moon, meteor peak) lines up tonight.
Wed Jan 6Waning, 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.
Thu Jan 7New moon - darkest skiesGood
Why Good?
Moon 1% lit: the brighter stars show well, the faintest sights are muted.
Fri Jan 8New moon - darkest skiesGood
Why Good?
Moon 0% lit: the brighter stars show well, the faintest sights are muted.
Sat Jan 9New moon - darkest skiesGood
Why Good?
Moon 2% lit: the brighter stars show well, the faintest sights are muted.
Sun Jan 10Waxing, 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.
Mon Jan 11Waxing, 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.
Tue Jan 12Waxing, 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.
Wed Jan 13Waxing, 27% litLimited
Why Limited?
A quieter night with the moon 27% lit: fine for bright stars, not for the faintest sights.
Thu Jan 14Waxing, 37% litLimited
Why Limited?
A quieter night with the moon 37% lit: fine for bright stars, not for the faintest sights.
Fri Jan 15Waxing, 48% litLimited
Why Limited?
Moonlight (48% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.