Aoraki Mackenzie Dark Sky Reserve stargazing in January 2027
Galactic core overhead in the southern winter. Tours from Tekapo.
Fri 1 Jan to Sun 31 Jan 2027
Best night: Tue 5 January 2027
Dark from 23:46 to 03:45 · 4.0 h without the moon · Milky Way core: below horizon
| Night of | Moon | Dark hours | Moon-free | Milky Way core | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fri 1 Jan | 34% | 4.0 | 1.8 | below horizon | 76 |
| Sat 2 Jan | 25% | 4.0 | 2.3 | below horizon | 83 |
| Sun 3 Jan | 17% | 4.0 | 2.8 | below horizon | 87 |
| Mon 4 Jan | 10% | 4.0 | 3.5 | below horizon | 91 |
| Tue 5 Jan | 5% | 4.0 | 4.0 | below horizon | 92 |
| Wed 6 Jan | 2% | 4.2 | 4.2 | below horizon | 92 |
| Thu 7 Jan | 0% | 4.2 | 4.2 | below horizon | 92 |
| Fri 8 Jan | 0% | 4.2 | 4.2 | below horizon | 92 |
| Sat 9 Jan | 2% | 4.2 | 4.2 | below horizon | 92 |
| Sun 10 Jan | 6% | 4.3 | 4.3 | below horizon | 92 |
| Mon 11 Jan | 11% | 4.3 | 4.3 | below horizon | 92 |
| Tue 12 Jan | 18% | 4.3 | 4.3 | below horizon | 92 |
| Wed 13 Jan | 27% | 4.5 | 4.3 | below horizon | 92 |
| Thu 14 Jan | 37% | 4.5 | 4.0 | below horizon | 89 |
| Fri 15 Jan | 47% | 4.5 | 3.5 | below horizon | 84 |
| Sat 16 Jan | 58% | 4.7 | 3.3 | below horizon | 79 |
| Sun 17 Jan | 69% | 4.7 | 2.7 | below horizon | 68 |
| Mon 18 Jan | 79% | 4.7 | 2.0 | below horizon | 54 |
| Tue 19 Jan | 88% | 4.8 | 1.2 | below horizon | 37 |
| Wed 20 Jan | 94% | 4.8 | 0.0 | below horizon | 13 |
| Thu 21 Jan | 98% | 5.0 | 0.0 | below horizon | 10 |
| Fri 22 Jan | 100% | 5.0 | 0.0 | below horizon | 8 |
| Sat 23 Jan | 99% | 5.0 | 0.0 | below horizon | 9 |
| Sun 24 Jan | 95% | 5.2 | 0.0 | below horizon | 13 |
| Mon 25 Jan | 89% | 5.2 | 0.0 | below horizon | 18 |
| Tue 26 Jan | 81% | 5.2 | 0.0 | below horizon | 25 |
| Wed 27 Jan | 71% | 5.3 | 0.2 | moonlit only | 35 |
| Thu 28 Jan | 61% | 5.3 | 0.5 | moonlit only | 47 |
| Fri 29 Jan | 51% | 5.5 | 1.0 | moonlit only | 59 |
| Sat 30 Jan | 41% | 5.5 | 1.5 | moonlit only | 69 |
| Sun 31 Jan | 32% | 5.5 | 2.0 | moonlit only | 77 |
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Questions
What is the best night for stargazing at Aoraki Mackenzie Dark Sky Reserve in January 2027?
The best nights are Tue 5 Jan, Wed 6 Jan, Thu 7 Jan, Fri 8 Jan, Sat 9 Jan, when the sky is fully dark and the moon is down for most of the night.
Can you see the Milky Way core at Aoraki Mackenzie Dark Sky Reserve in January?
Not really: in January the galactic centre is below the horizon or only up in twilight or moonlight.
Aoraki Mackenzie Dark Sky Reserve stargazing by month
Weather is not included. Times are local (Pacific/Auckland).