SKY · STARGAZING · SOUTH AFRICA

Is Tonight Good for Stargazing in Cape Town?

Clear skies tonight (about 0% cloud) — but a bright Moon (86% lit) will wash out faint stars and the Milky Way tonight.

TONIGHT'S VERDICT · CAPE TOWN

VerdictClear skies — but a bright Moon

Night cloud0%

MoonWaxing Gibbous · 86%

Dark from6:01 PM

Until7:43 AM

Worth looking for: A great night for the Moon itself, bright planets and the brightest constellations — save the Milky Way and faint targets for a darker night.

Live cloud reading

READING TONIGHT'S SKY…

How dark is the sky over Cape Town?

Sky class (estimate)Bortle 7 · Suburban / urban transition

A Bortle 7 coastal city; the Karoo darkens dramatically inland.

Even on the clearest, Moonless night, a bright city sky limits what you can see. For the Milky Way and faint stars from Cape Town, you'll want to reach a darker site — see the options below.

Darker skies within reach of Cape Town

~3 HR DRIVE NORTHCederberg WildernessBortle 2 mountain-desert skies.

A DESTINATION TRIP NORTH-EASTSutherland (SAAO)Site of South Africa’s major observatory; superb dark sky.

Dark-sky designations from the International Dark-Sky Association and well-recognised dark regions. Always check access, opening hours and the weather before travelling.

Cape Town right now

SKY · TONIGHTEverything up over Cape Town tonight EARTH · WEATHERClouds & conditions over Cape Town SKY · LIVE MAPCloud cover & the night side over Cape Town

More sky over Cape Town

SKY · LIVEThe Moon tonight — Cape Town SKY · LIVESee the Milky Way — Cape Town SKY · LIVEAurora outlook — Cape Town SKY · LIVEHow the stargazing rating works

SEE IT ON THE MAP

Live cloud cover over Cape Town, on the full map.

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