Galactic core · next 30 nights

Milky Way windows at Hilo

This tracks the Sagittarius galactic core only when the Sun is at least 18° below the horizon and the core is at least 10° high. It is geometry, not a weather promise.

Best night18 Sept3.0 h of core visibility in darkness

Highest core altitude37°near 19:40

Usable nights30 / 30Moonlight and cloud still decide image contrast.

Computed local geometry

Core hours after astronomical twilight

18 Sept3.0 h56% moon

19 Sept3.0 h65% moon

20 Sept3.0 h73% moon

21 Sept3.0 h81% moon

22 Sept3.0 h88% moon

23 Sept2.7 h94% moon

24 Sept2.7 h98% moon

25 Sept2.7 h100% moon

26 Sept2.7 h99% moon

27 Sept2.7 h97% moon

28 Sept2.3 h91% moon

29 Sept2.3 h84% moon

30 Sept2.3 h75% moon

1 Oct2.3 h64% moon

2 Oct2.3 h52% moon

3 Oct2.0 h40% moon

4 Oct2.3 h29% moon

5 Oct2.3 h19% moon

6 Oct2.3 h11% moon

7 Oct2.3 h5% moon

8 Oct2.0 h1% moon

9 Oct2.0 h0% moon

10 Oct2.0 h1% moon

11 Oct2.0 h4% moon

12 Oct2.0 h9% moon

13 Oct1.7 h15% moon

14 Oct1.7 h22% moon

15 Oct1.7 h30% moon

16 Oct1.7 h39% moon

17 Oct1.7 h48% moon

19:40–22:40

This is the widest geometric window in the next month. Check the live forecast before travelling, then favor the darkest moonless portion. Check live cloud and transparency →

Change location

Keep planning

Same coordinates, different question

Moon

Moonless nights

Find the longest uninterrupted dark windows.

Core

Milky Way

See when the galactic core clears the horizon after dark.

−18°

Astronomical darkness

Track true darkness, including polar twilight.