Milky Way Calculator
When the galactic core is up, the sky is dark, and the moon is gone.
Core visibility for
What this calculates
Three conditions have to coincide for the bright galactic core to show in a photo: the core (in Sagittarius, around RA 17h46m, Dec −29°) must sit at least ~10° above your horizon; the sun must be more than 18° below it — true astronomical darkness; and the moon must be down, because even a quarter moon washes the core out. This page checks all three for every night in the next 30 days at your exact coordinates. Light pollution is the fourth condition — that one is on you and your map.
FAQ
- Why can't I see the core at high latitudes?
- The core's declination is −29°, so its maximum possible altitude is about 61° minus your latitude. North of roughly latitude 50°N it barely clears the horizon; north of ~55°N it effectively never does. The southern hemisphere gets the best view — the core passes overhead near latitude 29°S.
- When is Milky Way season?
- In northern mid-latitudes, roughly February (pre-dawn) through October (evening), peaking in June–July when the core is up all night. In the southern hemisphere the season is longer and the core rides far higher.
- Does a small moon really matter?
- Yes — moonlight scatters across the whole sky. The table only counts time when the moon is below the horizon; nights around new moon give the longest windows.