Galactic core · next 30 nights

Milky Way windows at Siding Spring Observatory

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 night3 Nov1.7 h of core visibility in darkness

Highest core altitude26°near 21:00

Usable nights17 / 30Moonlight and cloud still decide image contrast.

Computed local geometry

Core hours after astronomical twilight

3 Nov1.7 h32% moon

4 Nov1.3 h22% moon

5 Nov1.3 h14% moon

6 Nov1.0 h7% moon

7 Nov1.0 h3% moon

8 Nov1.0 h1% moon

9 Nov0.7 h0% moon

10 Nov0.7 h2% moon

11 Nov0.7 h5% moon

12 Nov0.7 h10% moon

13 Nov0.7 h17% moon

14 Nov0.3 h24% moon

15 Nov0.3 h33% moon

16 Nov0.3 h42% moon

17 Nov0.3 h52% moon

18 Nov0.3 h62% moon

19 Nov0.3 h71% moon

20 Novnone80% moon

21 Novnone88% moon

22 Novnone94% moon

23 Novnone98% moon

24 Novnone100% moon

25 Novnone99% moon

26 Novnone95% moon

27 Novnone89% moon

28 Novnone80% moon

29 Novnone70% moon

30 Novnone59% moon

1 Decnone48% moon

2 Decnone37% moon

21:00–22:40

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 →

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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.