Stargazing Camping Dehene Asangaon

What You Can See in the Night Sky at Dehne

Here’s what’s visible from Dehne in the October 2026 to May 2027 season, and when to look for it. For exact dates of meteor showers and planet events, see the Night Sky Calendar above.

With the Naked Eye

The Moon

• A crescent or half Moon is the best time to see craters and mountains through a telescope. Around the full Moon the sky is too bright for faint stars, which is why we time camps around the new moon where possible.

Planets

• Venus: The brilliant “Morning Star”, low in the east before sunrise from mid-November 2026 through May 2027. Look for it during our 4:45 AM dawn session.
• Jupiter: Rises around midnight in November 2026 and earlier each week. It’s up all night around its opposition on 11 February 2027 and stays in the evening sky through May.
• Saturn: A soft golden point of light in the evening sky from October 2026 to January 2027.
• Mars: Rises after midnight in October 2026 and gets brighter through the winter, peaking at opposition on 19 February 2027. Look for its orange-red colour.
• Mercury: Tricky to catch. It shows up briefly, low in the twilight after sunset or before sunrise, a few times a year.

Bright Stars

• Sirius: The brightest star in the night sky. Evenings from December to April.
• Betelgeuse and Rigel: The red shoulder and blue-white foot of Orion. Evenings from December to March.
• Vega, Deneb and Altair: The Summer Triangle, in the western sky in the early evening in October and November.
• Canopus: The second-brightest star, low in the south on January to March evenings.
• Arcturus: A bright orange star, rising in the east on March evenings and high in the sky by May.

Constellations

• Orion, the Hunter: The easiest constellation to recognise, with three stars in a row for its belt. Evenings from December to March.
• Taurus, the Bull: Its eye is the orange star Aldebaran, next to the Hyades and Pleiades star clusters. Evenings from November to March.
• Cassiopeia: A “W” of five stars in the northern sky on October to December evenings.
• Ursa Major and Ursa Minor: The Big Dipper, the seven brightest stars of Ursa Major, is best in the north on March to May evenings. Polaris, the North Star, sits at the tip of Ursa Minor about 19° above the northern horizon at Dehne, which matches our latitude.
• Scorpius, the Scorpion: Its red heart, Antares, sets in the south-west on early October evenings. It returns after midnight in March and rises by early evening in May.

The Milky Way

• On moonless nights, Dehne is dark enough to see the Milky Way. Its bright core is in the south-west at dusk in early October. It returns before dawn from March and rises before midnight by May. From December to February, a fainter band runs high across the sky beside Orion.

Through Binoculars and Telescopes

Planets up close

• Jupiter: Cloud bands and its four largest moons. Best from December 2026 to April 2027.
• Saturn: Its rings, tilting open again after appearing nearly edge-on in 2025. Best from October 2026 to January 2027.
• Mars: A small orange disc, at its biggest around February 2027.
• Venus: Shows phases like the Moon. It looks half-lit in early January 2027.

Star clusters

• Pleiades (Seven Sisters): October to March evenings.
• Hyades: The V-shaped cluster around Aldebaran. November to March.
• Beehive Cluster: January to April evenings.

Nebulae

• Orion Nebula (M42): A glowing cloud where new stars are forming, just below Orion’s belt. December to March.
• Lagoon Nebula (M8): Near the Milky Way’s core in Sagittarius. Early October evenings, then before dawn from March to May.

Galaxies

• Andromeda Galaxy (M31): About 2.5 million light-years away, the most distant thing you can easily see with the naked eye. October to December evenings.

Meteor showers

• This season’s best showers are the Orionids (October), Leonids (November), Geminids (December), Quadrantids (January) and Eta Aquariids (May). See the Night Sky Calendar above for peak dates and Moon conditions.

Rare events

• Lunar eclipse: A subtle penumbral eclipse before dawn on 21 February 2027.
• Comets: Bright comets can’t be predicted far ahead, but when one appears it’s well worth the trip.

Astrophotography at Dehne

Dehne’s dark skies make it a great place to start photographing the night sky. In the astrophotography session you’ll learn how to capture star trails on any clear night, and the Milky Way when it’s in season: early evening in October, and before dawn from March to May. Bring a DSLR or mirrorless camera and a tripod if you have them. They’re optional.

 

Stargazing at Dehne: FAQs

Getting There

Where is Dehne (Dehene) village?
Dehne, also spelled Dehene, is a small village in Shahapur taluka, Thane district, Maharashtra. It’s about an hour by jeep from Asangaon railway station.

How do I reach Dehne from Mumbai by public transport?
Take the 1:13 PM fast local from CSMT. It stops at Byculla, Dadar, Kurla, Ghatkopar, Thane, Dombivli and Kalyan, and reaches Asangaon at 2:54 PM. If you book the “With Transport” option, a jeep takes you from Asangaon station to Dehne and back.

Which railway station is nearest to Dehne?
Asangaon, on the Kasara line of Central Railway.

How long does it take to reach Dehne from Mumbai?
About 2 hours 40 minutes from CSMT: 1 hour 40 minutes by fast local to Asangaon, then about an hour by jeep.

Can I come in my own vehicle?
Yes. Book the “Without Transport” option and reach the campsite by 4:00 PM. We’ll send you the exact Google Maps location after your booking is confirmed, and add you to a WhatsApp group for updates.

Cost and Booking

How much does the Dehne stargazing camp cost?
Without transport: ₹1,999 per adult and ₹1,799 per child (4 to 8 years). With jeep transport from Asangaon: ₹2,399 per adult and ₹2,199 per child.

What’s included in the price?
Tented stay, evening tea and dinner on Day 1, breakfast on Day 2, and the astronomy instructor and telescopes. The transport option also includes the jeep from Asangaon to Dehne and back. Your train ticket to Asangaon, bottled water, extra food and drinks, and personal expenses aren’t included.

What’s the cancellation policy?
If you cancel by phone 8 or more days before the event, you get a 75% refund. Cancel 4 to 7 days before and you get 50%. After that there’s no refund, and there’s no refund for no-shows either. Bookings can’t be moved to another date or another person.

How do I book?
Use the Book Now button on this page

The Stargazing

When is the best time for stargazing at Dehne?
The clearest skies are from October to May, after the monsoon. Weekends close to the new moon are the darkest, so faint stars and the Milky Way are easier to see. See the Night Sky Calendar above for this season’s highlights.

What will I see?
It depends on the month and the weather. On a clear night you’ll see planets, bright stars and constellations with the naked eye. Through the telescopes you’ll get close-up views of planets, star clusters, nebulae and galaxies. See “What You Can See in the Night Sky at Dehne” above for a month-by-month guide.

What happens if it’s cloudy?
The event still goes ahead, with a campfire and an astronomy information session. What you can see depends on the weather, and there’s no refund or postponement because of cloud or rain.

Do I need any experience or my own telescope?
No. The instructor and telescopes are included, and the night starts with an orientation session, so beginners are welcome.

Can I do astrophotography?
Yes. In the astrophotography session you’ll learn to photograph star trails, and the Milky Way when it’s in season. Bring a DSLR or mirrorless camera and a tripod if you have them. They’re optional.

Stay, Food and Facilities

Are tents provided? Do I need a sleeping bag?
Tents are provided. Bring your own sleeping bag, or two bedsheets and a mat.

Who shares a tent? Is it good for couples?
Tents are triple or double sharing. Couples get the same tent, and groups booking together share tents with each other. Solo travellers are allotted tents as per gender.

What are the washroom facilities?
Washrooms at the campsite are Indian-style only. We have a homestay 5 mins drive away with modern toilets. 

What food is provided?
Evening tea and dinner on Day 1, a late-night tea break, and breakfast on Day 2. Carry some ready-to-eat snacks and at least 2 litres of drinking water. Jain food is available.

Is there mobile network at the campsite?
No. Signal drops about 5 km before the campsite, so make any calls and save the location for offline use before you lose signal.

What should I carry?
ID proof (must), a sleeping bag or two bedsheets and a mat, a torch with extra batteries, at least 2 litres of water, ready-to-eat snacks, a towel, a jacket or sweater, any medicines you usually take, floaters, and a rucksack or daypack. Please don’t bring sling bags or jholas. A DSLR with a tripod is optional.

Who Can Join

Is it suitable for kids, families and senior citizens?
Yes. It’s a low-endurance event suitable for all, and children aged 4 to 8 pay a child rate. Children must come with a parent or guardian. Senior citizens are welcome too. Just keep in mind that you’ll sleep in a tent and the washrooms are Indian-style.

Is it safe for solo travellers, including women?
Yes. Solo travellers are allotted tents as per gender, so solo men and women stay in separate tents, and our instructor is with the group through the night’s sessions.

Is alcohol or smoking allowed?
No. Drinking and smoking are not allowed on our events.

Do I need to tell you about medical conditions?
Yes. If you have a medical condition, check with your doctor before booking and let us know. We carry a basic first-aid kit, but medical and emergency evacuation costs aren’t included.