Addis Ababa sits high on the Ethiopian plateau at 2,355m, one of the highest capital cities in the world — an altitude that gives thin, clear air and excellent transparency. The city's Bortle 6 glow gives way to dark highland skies quickly, with Bortle 3 conditions reachable in the surrounding countryside. At 9°N, near the equator, both celestial hemispheres are accessible through the year, and the bright Milky Way core passes nearly overhead in season. Ethiopia has distinct wet and dry seasons; the dry months (October to May) offer the most reliable clear nights for observing.