Tool
Sky tonight
Pick any date to see the moon's phase, roughly when the sun sets in Abuja, and what to look for from your balcony or compound.
Moon and sky
Check a date
Moon
Sunset in Abuja:
Look for:
Tip:
Moon phase is calculated in your browser. Sunset times are rounded for Abuja.
From home
Five things you can see from Abuja
- 01
The Southern Cross
Not visible from Europe or most of the US. From here it rises low in the south.
- 02
The Pole Star
Just nine degrees up in the north. Find it from the Big Dipper's pointers.
- 03
The Milky Way
On moonless nights away from bright lights, especially from June to August.
- 04
Bright planets
Venus and Jupiter outshine every star. If it does not twinkle, it is probably a planet.
- 05
Satellites
Slow, steady points crossing the sky an hour after sunset.
Tips
Better views at home
You do not need a telescope to start. Let your eyes adjust for 15 minutes, switch off compound lights if you can, and use a red torch. Binoculars from our shop show the moon's craters and the moons of Jupiter. When you are ready, our Friday telescope nights let you try six different telescopes before buying one.
Sky questions
Why can I see so few stars in town?
Street lights, generators and dust all brighten the sky. Even a short drive towards the hills helps.
Why does the harmattan matter?
Fine dust scatters light and hides faint stars, but the nights after a breeze can be very clear.
When is the next eclipse in Nigeria?
Come to the Eclipse explained talk in January, where we cover the next ones visible from West Africa.
