Stargazing forecast
Stargazing in Gabriela Mistral (Elqui Valley)
The AURA Observatory in Chile's Elqui Valley anchors the Gabriela Mistral Dark Sky Sanctuary, certified in 2015 under the clear, dry skies of the southern Atacama.
Your standout nightnext 90 nights
Milky Way core high & dark
New moon, 0% lit
Look west-southwest, about 40 degrees up
The single best night to be here.
rim = horizoncenter = overhead
Darkness only, computed from moon phase, Milky Way core visibility, and rated meteor peaks. No weather.
- Mon Jul 20Waxing, 29% litLimited
Why Limited?
A quieter night with the moon 29% lit: fine for bright stars, not for the faintest sights.
- Tue Jul 21Waxing, 39% litLimited
Why Limited?
A quieter night with the moon 39% lit: fine for bright stars, not for the faintest sights.
- Wed Jul 22Waxing, 50% litLimited
Why Limited?
Moonlight (50% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.
- Thu Jul 23Waxing, 60% litLimited
Why Limited?
Moonlight (60% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.
- Fri Jul 24Waxing, 70% litLimited
Why Limited?
Moonlight (70% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.
- Sat Jul 25Waxing, 80% litLimited
Why Limited?
Moonlight (80% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.
- Sun Jul 26Waxing, 87% litLimited
Why Limited?
Moonlight (87% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.
Show the remaining 83 nights · 23 more worth travelling for, including the best night (Thu Aug 13)
- Mon Jul 27Waxing, 94% litLimited
Why Limited?
Moonlight (94% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.
- Tue Jul 28Waxing, 98% litLimited
Why Limited?
Moonlight (98% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.
- Wed Jul 29Full moon - bright moonlit sky & moonriseBright moon
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
Why Bright moon?
The moon is 100% lit, which washes out the Milky Way and faint stars.
- Fri Jul 31Waning, 97% litLimited
Why Limited?
Moonlight (97% lit) limits the fainter sky tonight.
- Sat Aug 1Waning, 93% litLimited
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
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
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
Look west-southwest, about 45 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
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
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
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
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
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
Look west-southwest, about 40 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
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
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
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
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
Look west-southwest, about 20 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
Look west-southwest, about 20 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
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
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
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
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
Look west-southwest, about 15 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.
- Sat Oct 17Waxing, 33% litLimited
Why Limited?
A quieter night with the moon 33% lit: fine for bright stars, not for the faintest sights.
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
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