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The best skies in September

120 places where September is among the best months: long dark nights and clearer skies.

1Bortle96mountainBikku BittiLibyaLibya21.90 mag/arcsec² · Best month1Bortle95volcanoUturuncuBoliviaBolivia21.90 mag/arcsec² · Best month1Bortle95mountainZapaleriBoliviaBolivia21.90 mag/arcsec² · Best month2Bortle95desertAtacama DesertChileChile21.88 mag/arcsec² · Best month1Bortle94desertLibyan DesertEgyptEgypt21.90 mag/arcsec² · Best month1Bortle94desertKebira CraterEgyptEgypt21.90 mag/arcsec² · Best month1Bortle94volcanoLlullaillacoChileChile21.90 mag/arcsec² · Best month3Bortle94mountainMount SinaiEgyptEgypt21.68 mag/arcsec² · Best month2Bortle94mountainMount CatherineEgyptEgypt21.73 mag/arcsec² · Best month1Bortle94desertTénéré desertNigerNiger21.90 mag/arcsec² · Best month1Bortle94volcanoLicancaburBoliviaBolivia21.90 mag/arcsec² · Best month2Bortle94mountainJabal al-LawzSaudi ArabiaSaudi Arabia21.81 mag/arcsec² · Best month1Bortle94mountainSpitzkoppeNamibiaNamibia21.89 mag/arcsec² · Best month1Bortle94volcanoOllagüeChileChile21.90 mag/arcsec² · Best month1Bortle94desertSaharaMaliMali21.90 mag/arcsec² · Best month1Bortle94volcanoGuallatiri, ChileChileChile21.89 mag/arcsec² · Best month1Bortle93desertDasht-e MargoAfghanistanAfghanistan21.89 mag/arcsec² · Best month1Bortle93volcanoSan PedroChileChile21.89 mag/arcsec² · Best month1Bortle93mountainWaw an NamusLibyaLibya21.90 mag/arcsec² · Best month1Bortle93desertRub' al KhaliYemenYemen21.90 mag/arcsec² · Best month1Bortle93desertRegistan DesertAfghanistanAfghanistan21.89 mag/arcsec² · Best month1Bortle93desertMurzuq DesertLibyaLibya21.90 mag/arcsec² · Best month1Bortle93desertSiloli desertBoliviaBolivia21.89 mag/arcsec² · Best month2Bortle93volcanoMount TaftanIranIran21.88 mag/arcsec² · Best month2Bortle93desertWestern DesertEgyptEgypt21.84 mag/arcsec² · Best month2Bortle93mountainOuanoukrimMoroccoMorocco21.87 mag/arcsec² · Best month1Bortle93volcanoAracarArgentinaArgentina21.90 mag/arcsec² · Best month1Bortle93volcanoAucanquilchaChileChile21.90 mag/arcsec² · Best month2Bortle93volcanoLassen PeakUnited StatesUnited States21.85 mag/arcsec² · Best month2Bortle93volcanoMount ShastaUnited StatesUnited States21.88 mag/arcsec² · Best month1Bortle93International Dark Sky ReserveNamibRand Nature ReserveNamibiaNamibia21.90 mag/arcsec² · Best month1Bortle92volcanoParinacotaChileChile21.89 mag/arcsec² · Best month2Bortle92mountainHalf DomeUnited StatesUnited States21.79 mag/arcsec² · Best month1Bortle92desertSalvador Dalí DesertBoliviaBolivia21.89 mag/arcsec² · Best month1Bortle92volcanoLascarChileChile21.90 mag/arcsec² · Best month2Bortle92lakeLake NasserEgyptEgypt21.86 mag/arcsec² · Best month1Bortle92volcanoAcamarachiChileChile21.90 mag/arcsec² · Best month1Bortle92mountainNevado SajamaBoliviaBolivia21.89 mag/arcsec² · Best month2Bortle92desertNamibNamibiaNamibia21.87 mag/arcsec² · Best month1Bortle92volcanoAcotangoChileChile21.89 mag/arcsec² · Best month1Bortle92volcanoPomerapeBoliviaBolivia21.89 mag/arcsec² · Best month2Bortle92desertSyrian DesertIraqIraq21.81 mag/arcsec² · Best month2Bortle92mountainJbel ToubkalMoroccoMorocco21.86 mag/arcsec² · Best month2Bortle92mountainMount WhitneyUnited StatesUnited States21.84 mag/arcsec² · Best month1Bortle91desertKalahari DesertAngolaAngola21.90 mag/arcsec² · Best month1Bortle91volcanoCoropunaPeruPeru21.90 mag/arcsec² · Best month2Bortle91desertErg AdmerAlgeriaAlgeria21.88 mag/arcsec² · Best month1Bortle91volcanoAntofallaArgentinaArgentina21.90 mag/arcsec² · Best month1Bortle91mountainTata SabayaBoliviaBolivia21.89 mag/arcsec² · Best month1Bortle91desertTanami DesertAustraliaAustralia21.90 mag/arcsec² · Best month1Bortle91volcanoMount KarthalaComorosComoros21.90 mag/arcsec² · Best month1Bortle91volcanoSocompaChileChile21.90 mag/arcsec² · Best month1Bortle91desertGreat Sandy DesertAustraliaAustralia21.90 mag/arcsec² · Best month2Bortle90volcanoUbinasPeruPeru21.88 mag/arcsec² · Best month1Bortle90desertErg TiffernineAlgeriaAlgeria21.89 mag/arcsec² · Best month2Bortle90lakeMono LakeUnited StatesUnited States21.82 mag/arcsec² · Best month3Bortle90desertBlack DesertEgyptEgypt21.68 mag/arcsec² · Best month1Bortle90desertKharan DesertPakistanPakistan21.89 mag/arcsec² · Best month2Bortle90mountainJabal Umm ad DamiJordanJordan21.73 mag/arcsec² · Best month1Bortle90desertGibson DesertAustraliaAustralia21.90 mag/arcsec² · Best month1Bortle90desertTanezrouftAlgeriaAlgeria21.90 mag/arcsec² · Best month1Bortle90volcanoTacoraChileChile21.89 mag/arcsec² · Best month1Bortle90desertLittle Sandy DesertAustraliaAustralia21.90 mag/arcsec² · Best month1Bortle90lakeLake AmadeusAustraliaAustralia21.90 mag/arcsec² · Best month2Bortle90International Dark Sky ParkGrand Canyon National ParkUnited StatesUnited States21.85 mag/arcsec² · Best month1Bortle90desertKyzyl KumKazakhstanKazakhstan21.89 mag/arcsec² · Best month2Bortle90lakeLake KaribaZambiaZambia21.87 mag/arcsec² · Best month1Bortle90canyonKings CanyonAustraliaAustralia21.90 mag/arcsec² · Best month2Bortle90mountainMatobo HillsZimbabweZimbabwe21.82 mag/arcsec² · Best month2Bortle90desertPainted DesertUnited StatesUnited States21.86 mag/arcsec² · Best month2Bortle89desertKarakum DesertTurkmenistanTurkmenistan21.84 mag/arcsec² · Best month2Bortle89International Dark Sky ParkEl Morro National MonumentUnited StatesUnited States21.85 mag/arcsec² · Best month2Bortle89mountainM'GounMoroccoMorocco21.87 mag/arcsec² · Best month2Bortle89International Dark Sky ParkBryce Canyon National ParkUnited StatesUnited States21.87 mag/arcsec² · Best month1Bortle89lakeLake BangweuluZambiaZambia21.89 mag/arcsec² · Best month2Bortle89International Dark Sky ParkSalinas Pueblo Missions National MonumentUnited StatesUnited States21.83 mag/arcsec² · Best month1Bortle89mountainMount NyanganiZimbabweZimbabwe21.89 mag/arcsec² · Best month2Bortle89International Dark Sky ParkCedar Breaks National MonumentUnited StatesUnited States21.83 mag/arcsec² · Best month2Bortle89islandKythiraGreeceGreece21.83 mag/arcsec² · Best month2Bortle89International Dark Sky ParkLapalala WildernessSouth AfricaSouth Africa21.76 mag/arcsec² · Best month1Bortle89desertStrzelecki DesertAustraliaAustralia21.90 mag/arcsec² · Best month1Bortle89desertPedirka DesertAustraliaAustralia21.90 mag/arcsec² · Best month1Bortle89desertTirari-Sturt stony desertAustraliaAustralia21.90 mag/arcsec² · Best month3Bortle89desertSinai PeninsulaEgyptEgypt21.61 mag/arcsec² · Best month2Bortle89International Dark Sky ParkPetrified Forest National ParkUnited StatesUnited States21.85 mag/arcsec² · Best month1Bortle89desertSturt Stony DesertAustraliaAustralia21.90 mag/arcsec² · Best month2Bortle89International Dark Sky ParkMesa Verde National ParkUnited StatesUnited States21.80 mag/arcsec² · Best month1Bortle89desertPainted DesertAustraliaAustralia21.90 mag/arcsec² · Best month1Bortle89canyonCotuahusi canionPeruPeru21.89 mag/arcsec² · Best month2Bortle89mountainMount AthosGreeceGreece21.82 mag/arcsec² · Best month2Bortle89International Dark Sky ParkChaco Culture National Historical ParkUnited StatesUnited States21.86 mag/arcsec² · Best month2Bortle89islandKarpathosGreeceGreece21.85 mag/arcsec² · Best month1Bortle89lakeRukwa LakeTanzaniaTanzania21.90 mag/arcsec² · Best month2Bortle89mountainKing's PeakUnited StatesUnited States21.87 mag/arcsec² · Best month1Bortle88islandAnjouanComorosComoros21.90 mag/arcsec² · Best month2Bortle88International Dark Sky ParkChiricahua National MonumentUnited StatesUnited States21.82 mag/arcsec² · Best month1Bortle88lakeKati Thanda–Lake EyreAustraliaAustralia21.90 mag/arcsec² · Best month1Bortle88desertTirari DesertAustraliaAustralia21.90 mag/arcsec² · Best month2Bortle88islandFolegandrosGreeceGreece21.80 mag/arcsec² · Best month2Bortle88desertRig-e JennIranIran21.76 mag/arcsec² · Best month2Bortle88lakeCahora Bassa ReservoirMozambiqueMozambique21.88 mag/arcsec² · Best month2Bortle88lakeLake ChiutaMalawiMalawi21.88 mag/arcsec² · Best month2Bortle88desertBlack Rock DesertUnited StatesUnited States21.87 mag/arcsec² · Best month2Bortle88International Dark Sky ParkGreat Basin National ParkUnited StatesUnited States21.88 mag/arcsec² · Best month2Bortle88desertBaja California DesertMexicoMexico21.88 mag/arcsec² · Best month2Bortle88mountainPico AlmanzorSpainSpain21.79 mag/arcsec² · Best month2Bortle88islandAntikytheraGreeceGreece21.84 mag/arcsec² · Best month2Bortle88lakeSabkhat al-JabbulSyriaSyria21.71 mag/arcsec² · Best month3Bortle88desertEastern DesertEritreaEritrea21.55 mag/arcsec² · Best month2Bortle88International Dark Sky ParkPipe Spring National MonumentUnited StatesUnited States21.84 mag/arcsec² · Best month1Bortle88mountainKata TjutaAustraliaAustralia21.90 mag/arcsec² · Best month2Bortle88lakeEuphrates LakeSyriaSyria21.76 mag/arcsec² · Best month2Bortle88lakeCrater LakeUnited StatesUnited States21.86 mag/arcsec² · Best month2Bortle88islandKasosGreeceGreece21.85 mag/arcsec² · Best month2Bortle88International Dark Sky ParkCanyonlands National ParkUnited StatesUnited States21.88 mag/arcsec² · Best month1Bortle88mountainMonte BingaMozambiqueMozambique21.89 mag/arcsec² · Best month1Bortle88desertGreat Victoria DesertAustraliaAustralia21.90 mag/arcsec² · Best month2Bortle88International Dark Sky ParkKodachrome Basin State ParkUnited StatesUnited States21.87 mag/arcsec² · Best month1Bortle88lakeLake TorrensAustraliaAustralia21.90 mag/arcsec² · Best month2Bortle88International Dark Sky CommunityNorwoodUnited StatesUnited States21.86 mag/arcsec² · Best month

Best months: dark hours × clear sky (NASA, 2001–2020) × the Milky Way. Check the Moon before you go.

The family

Do you prefer beaches, lakes, mountains, waterfalls, islands, rivers, canyons, caves, dark skies, viewpoints, birdwatching or forests?

Same idea, other landscapes: field atlases built on open data, in seven languages.

beachesCoastyaFind your beach: sea temperature, sun and swimming month by month.Visit lakesLakeyasEvery lake on Earth: water temperature, ice, depth and the shore.Visit mountainsPeakyasEvery summit in 3D: summit weather, the 0 °C line, huts and trails.Visit waterfallsCascadyasEvery waterfall: height, flow month by month and when it roars.Visit islandsIslandyasEvery island from the sea up: size, sea temperature, ferries and 3D.Visit riversRiveryasEvery river from source to sea: the journey, the flow and the basin in numbers.Visit canyonsCanyonyasEvery canyon cut to scale: depth to the floor, rim and floor temperatures, trails and viewpoints.Visit cavesCavernyasEvery cave with its real depth and length: the rock above, the temperature inside all year, and how to visit.Visit
dark skiesDarkskyasWhere the night is still dark: the sky of every place, the Milky Way month by month, the Moon, eclipses and auroras.You are here
viewpointsViewyasEvery viewpoint with its real 360° panorama: the peaks you can name, how far you see and where the sun sets.Coming soonVisit
birdwatchingBirdyasEvery bird sanctuary and wetland with the species recorded month by month: who is resident, who comes for the summer, who only passes through.Coming soonVisit
forestsForestyaEvery forest with its land-cover rings, what grows and lives in it, and the best months to walk it.Coming soonVisit