The sky this Month from December to January 2025 in Morocco

Explore the charm of the Moroccan Sky in the Sahara DESERT  with Morocco Astro Tours

The night sky in Morocco from December 2024 to January 2025 offers spectacular stargazing opportunities, thanks to the country’s clear, desert air and minimal light pollution in remote areas like the Sahara Desert.

Key Highlights:

1. Winter Constellations:

• • Prominent winter constellations like Orion (with its famous Belt and Betelgeuse), Taurus (Aldebaran), and Gemini (Castor and Pollux) dominate the sky.
  • The bright star Sirius, the brightest in the night sky, is highly visible in the constellation Canis Major.

2. Planets:

• • Venus (the “Evening Star”) will be visible after sunset, shining brilliantly in the western sky.
  • Jupiter and Saturn will also be prominent, with Jupiter being very bright and easy to spot in the evening. Saturn may appear lower in the sky.
  • Mars could still be visible, though it may be dimmer than in prior months.

3. Meteor Showers:

• • The Geminid Meteor Shower peaks around December 13–14, offering up to 120 meteors per hour under ideal conditions. This is one of the most reliable and spectacular meteor showers.
  • The Quadrantid Meteor Shower, peaking on January 3–4, can produce up to 40 meteors per hour, best viewed in the early morning hours before dawn.

4. Milky Way:

• • The winter Milky Way is visible, though it is not as vivid as during the summer. In dark-sky locations like the Sahara Desert, the fainter winter section of the Milky Way appears as a faint band of light.

5. Moon Phases:

• • Full Moons will occur on December 15, 2024, and January 14, 2025, lighting up the landscape but diminishing the visibility of fainter stars.
  • For stargazing, aim for dates close to the New Moon on December 30, 2024, and January 28, 2025, when the skies are darkest.

Best Locations for Stargazing:

• Sahara Desert: Particularly in Merzouga or Erg Chebbi, far from light pollution.
• Atlas Mountains: High-altitude locations like Imlil or Oukaimeden.
• Agafay Desert: A stargazing haven closer to Marrakech.

These conditions make it an ideal time for night photography, observing celestial events, or simply enjoying the serene beauty of Morocco’s night sky.

Useful Information:

Duration: Optional.

Departure: contact us to organize a suitable time for stargazing or an Astro tour in Morocco

Starting Location: Andromeda Desert Astro camp we can pick you up from Erfoud to our camp

Ending Location: Back to the departure point.