Free Tool, Works for Any Date, Forever

Sahara Night Sky Planner

Name: Rêves de Sables
Address: 23 Rue Al-Mouahidine, Ouarzazate, 45000, MA
Telephone: +212669470334
Price range: $$

Pick a night. See sunset, moonrise, moon brightness and exactly how many hours of true dark sky Erg Chebbi will give you.

Pick your desert night

How It Works

Real Astronomy, Zero Guesswork

This Sahara night sky planner tells you, for any date you choose, exactly what the sky over Merzouga will do: sunset, the moment true darkness begins, moonrise and moonset, the moon’s illumination, and how many moon free hours of deep dark sky you get. Pick a night above and the verdict updates instantly.

It runs on pure astronomy, the same orbital mathematics used in professional almanacs, computed for the exact coordinates of Erg Chebbi. That means it works for next weekend, next year, or your honeymoon in three years, with no updates ever needed. Pair it with our guide to what a desert camp night is like and the best time to visit Morocco.

FAQ

Desert Stargazing, Common Questions

When is the best time for stargazing in the Sahara?

Any night within about five days of a new moon, in any month. The desert adds its own advantages: almost zero light pollution, very dry air and over 300 clear nights a year. For the Milky Way core specifically, April to September is the season, before dawn in spring and in the evening by late summer.

How accurate is this planner?

Sun and moon times are computed with standard astronomical algorithms and are typically accurate to within a couple of minutes for Merzouga. The one thing no formula can promise is weather, though Erg Chebbi is one of the most reliably clear places in Morocco.

Can you arrange a stargazing focused desert trip?

Yes, and the planner exists exactly for that. Pick your dark night, then send us the date on WhatsApp at +212669470334. We time the camp night of any itinerary, from the 8 day loop to the 2 week route, around the sky you want.

Do desert camps turn their lights off for stargazing?

The good ones dim or switch off camp lighting on request after dinner, and a two minute walk over the first dune gives you complete darkness in any case. Tell us stargazing matters to you and we match you with a camp that takes it seriously.

Plan the Night Itself