Dark Sky Odds

Stargazing at Babia Góra National Park: when is the sky clear and dark?

March is the best month for stargazing at Babia Góra National Park: on average 32 clear, moonless hours of full darkness, and 20% of nights have at least two of them (ERA5, 2006–2025). The darkest spot we found there is darker than 47% of Europe’s land (NASA VIIRS 2025).

Data updated: 31 December 2025 · Sources and licences

Calculated 5 November 2026 · cloud cover ERA5 2006–2025 · night lights NASA VIIRS 2025

national park · Poland

MarchBest month
239Clear moonless dark hours a year
47%darker than … of Europe’s land
20%Nights with ≥ 2 such hours (March)

Month by month

MonthNights with ≥ 2 such hoursClear moonless dark hoursMoonless dark hoursOf them clear
January12%2317813%
February12%1814712%
March20%3213224%
April20%259327%
May11%114823%
June0%01—
July6%62922%
August20%258330%
September20%3011825%
October18%3115520%
November12%1917511%
December12%2018910%

Climate, not a forecast: these are shares of past nights (ERA5 reanalysis, 2006–2025), not a prediction for a particular night. Check a forecast before you go.

Light pollution

Darker than47% of Europe’s land
Light pollutionnoticeable light glow
Sky-glow index (own, VIIRS) — Darkest spot we found4.18
Sky-glow index (own, VIIRS) — at the official map point5.00
Sky-glow index (own, VIIRS) — median across the area4.67
Darkest spot we found49.575, 19.525 (map) — within the OSM boundary

Next new moons

New moonNightMoonless dark hours that nightTypical share of good nights that month
9 November 20268–9 November 202611.012%
9 December 20268–9 December 202611.812%
7 January 20277–8 January 202711.812%
6 February 20276–7 February 202710.712%
8 March 20277–8 March 20279.020%
6 April 20276–7 April 20277.020%
6 May 20276–7 May 20274.211%
4 June 20274–5 June 20270.00%
4 July 20273–4 July 20270.06%
2 August 20271–2 August 20273.820%
31 August 202731 August 2027 – 1 September 20276.520%
30 September 202729–30 September 20278.720%

Hours with the Sun below −18° and the Moon below the horizon, on the night of the new moon, at the darkest spot.

Meteor showers

ShowerPeak nightChance of a clear peak nightMoon litMoonless dark hours (Sun < −12°)Radiant max. height
Leonids17–18 November 202620%55%6.762°
Geminids *13–14 December 202617%20%10.573°
Geminids *14–15 December 202615%28%9.373°
Quadrantids3–4 January 202712%13%12.071°
Lyrids22–23 April 202738%95%1.373°
Eta Aquariids *5–6 May 202728%0%6.312°
Eta Aquariids *6–7 May 202728%0%6.213°
Perseids *12–13 August 202742%84%3.267°
Perseids *13–14 August 202742%90%2.067°
Orionids21–22 October 202733%59%3.056°
Leonids *17–18 November 202720%82%1.562°
Leonids *18–19 November 202715%73%2.862°
Geminids14–15 December 202715%98%0.073°

* The peak falls in daylight in Europe, so both neighbouring nights are shown.

Clear peak night: at least 2 hours with ≤ 20 % cloud while the Sun is below −12°, on the same calendar night ± 1 in 2006–2025.

How we calculate