Khartoum Stargazing & Astronomy Report

Key Sky Quality Metrics

SQM (mag/arcsec²)

19.80

Bortle class

Class 6 (Class 6)

Darkness Quotient

44%

Dataset

April 2026

Bright suburban sky

Khartoum: The Practical Verdict

Khartoum, a major city in Sudan, is typified by its urban density and brightness. Its skies, classified as moderately light-polluted, limit astronomical observation to brighter celestial objects. The background light prevents the Milky Way from being visible, and the overall viewing conditions are best suited for casual or urban astronomy.

From Khartoum, observation should be focused on luminous objects like the Moon, visible planets, and some bright stars or clusters. More diffuse and faint deep-sky objects, such as galaxies or nebulae, are largely washed out by the sky's background brightness. Imaging possibilities are also constrained, with narrowband engagements potentially fruitful under controlled conditions.

For those seeking profound improvement in sky clarity, the nearby site of Hashabat Muhammad Ahmad to the south-south-west offers significantly darker skies at a Bortle 2 level. It represents a meaningful upgrade for serious deep-sky enthusiasts.

At a Glance

Overall

Limited suburban sky - This is a limited sky for astronomy. The brightest targets remain accessible, but faint deep-sky observing is heavily compromised.

Milky Way

Not visible - The sky background is generally too bright for a reliable Milky Way view.

Best targets from here

Moon, planets, double stars, bright open clusters, narrowband imaging, bright nebula cores

Do not prioritise

broadband galaxies, reflection nebulae, visual faint nebulae, Milky Way photography

Best nearby upgrade

Hashabat Muhammad Ahmad, North Kordufan sits about 267 km south south west and reaches Bortle 2, roughly 5.8x darker.

Good dark window

Khartoum 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 Khartoum?

No. Khartoum is a Bortle Class 6 sky with SQM 19.80, 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 Khartoum?

Khartoum is Bortle Class 6 (SQM 19.80), a limited suburban sky for astronomy.

Is Khartoum good for stargazing?

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

Is Khartoum good for astrophotography?

Broadband deep-sky imaging is heavily compromised from Khartoum and a Bortle 4 or darker site is strongly recommended. Narrowband imaging of bright emission nebulae remains viable from Khartoum with appropriate Ha or OIII filters.

What can you observe from Khartoum?

Primary targets from Khartoum include Moon, planets, double stars, bright open clusters, narrowband imaging. Targets such as broadband galaxies, reflection nebulae, visual faint nebulae are not realistic from this sky.

Where are darker skies near Khartoum?

The closest meaningfully darker mapped site is Al Khartum State, about 28 km south east of Khartoum, reaching Bortle 4.

When is the sky darkest in Khartoum?

The sky over Khartoum is darkest around January, December.

Is light pollution in Khartoum getting better or worse?

There is not yet enough long-term data to give a confident trend for Khartoum.

• Al Khartum State

  Direction

  SE

  Distance (km)

  28.1

  SQM

  21.06

  Bortle

  4

• Jumayliyah, White Nile

  Direction

  SSW

  Distance (km)

  36.5

  SQM

  20.54

  Bortle

  5

• Hashabat Muhammad Ahmad, North Kordufan

  Direction

  SSW

  Distance (km)

  266.9

  SQM

  21.71

  Bortle

  2