Canberra, Australia Clear Sky Chart

Canberra, Australia (-35.28°, 149.13°) · Updated 18:38 AEDT
43
Poor
high confidence ⓘ
high · Forecast stability

Tonight's forecast has held steady across recent updates. We compare how much tonight's score has moved across our recent forecast updates, a score that's held steady is more trustworthy.

Confidence reflects how trustworthy the forecast is, it doesn't change the score.

Marginal, check the window
Heavy cloud expected. ISS pass at 20:26 — 23° NW.
Sunset
19:31
Sunrise
06:02
Usable Hours
0/8
Moon
75%
Visible Planets
☿ Mercury11° W
♂ Mars19° NE
♃ Jupiter17° NE
♄ Saturn53° N
⛢ Uranus34° N
♆ Neptune55° N
Sky darkness
City sky (Bortle 8-9)
SQM 18.3, estimated from satellite night lights. A property of the place, separate from tonight’s score. How we estimate this
Open Full Canberra, Australia Forecast →
Hour-by-hour scores · Planet rise/set & visibility · ISS & satellite passes · Moon detail · Full score breakdown · Aurora & observer profiles

Stargazing in Canberra, Australia

Canberra, Australia's capital, sits inland at 580m elevation with Bortle 6 city skies and quick access to dark country. The surrounding hills and the Namadgi National Park to the south-west reach Bortle 3–4 within an hour, and the historic Mount Stromlo and Siding Spring observatories reflect the region's astronomical importance — Siding Spring, a few hours north, is Australia's premier optical observatory. The inland position gives drier, clearer air than the coast. At 35.3°S, the southern sky is superbly presented, with the winter Milky Way core standing high over the dark ranges.

Canberra, Australia Stargazing FAQ

Where can I stargaze near Canberra?∨
Namadgi National Park to the south-west and the surrounding ranges reach Bortle 3-4 within an hour. The inland elevation gives drier, clearer air than coastal cities, and Siding Spring Observatory lies a few hours north.
Is Canberra good for astronomy?∨
Yes — the inland, elevated position gives clearer, drier skies than the coast, dark country is close by, and the region has deep astronomical heritage with the Mount Stromlo and nearby Siding Spring observatories.
When is the best time to stargaze in Canberra?∨
The dry inland climate gives clear nights much of the year. The southern-hemisphere winter places the Milky Way core high overhead, though nights are cold. Autumn and spring balance comfort and darkness.