Milky Way Calendar New South Wales 2026
From Sydney, the core is up after dark from 29 January to 7 November 2026. Best months: June and July. It climbs to 85° above the northern horizon.
In Coonabarabran the core peaks at 88°, 3° higher than in Sydney, with 131 great nights to Sydney's 131 across NSW.
Next good night from Sydney: Thursday 5 November, 8:58 pm – 10:08 pm (1h 10m).
Times are Sydney local time (AEST, or AEDT during daylight saving). A good night has at least an hour where the sun is more than 18° below the horizon, the galactic core is at least 10° up, and the moon is down or less than 25% lit.
Month by month from Sydney
| Month | Core up (15th) | Typical dark window | Great nights | Good nights | Best dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | — | 1h 00m | 0 | 0 | 29 Jan |
| February | 2:30 am – 3:20 pm | 2h 40m | 5 | 11 | 23 Feb, 24 Feb, 26 Feb |
| March | 12:40 am – 1:30 pm | 5h 00m | 14 | 2 | 23 Mar, 24 Mar, 25 Mar |
| April | 9:40 pm – 10:30 am | 7h 00m | 15 | 2 | 19 Apr, 20 Apr, 22 Apr |
| May | 7:40 pm – 8:30 am | 7h 15m | 17 | 2 | 18 May, 19 May, 20 May |
| June | 5:40 pm – 6:30 am | 6h 50m | 18 | 4 | 11 Jun, 12 Jun, 13 Jun |
| July | 3:40 pm – 4:30 am | 6h 40m | 17 | 3 | 10 Jul, 11 Jul, 12 Jul |
| August | 1:40 pm – 2:30 am | 7h 05m | 16 | 3 | 8 Aug, 9 Aug, 10 Aug |
| September | 11:40 am – 12:30 am | 5h 30m | 14 | 2 | 4 Sep, 5 Sep, 6 Sep |
| October | 10:40 am – 11:30 pm | 3h 20m | 15 | 3 | 2 Oct, 3 Oct, 4 Oct |
| November | 8:40 am – 9:30 pm | 1h 10m | 0 | 1 | 1 Nov, 2 Nov, 3 Nov |
| December | Core not up after dark | ||||
Core up: when the galactic core is at least 10° above the horizon on the night of the 15th, including the part before dusk or after dawn. Typical dark window: the middle length of the month's nights in the calendar.
Night by night from Sydney
January 2026
February 2026
March 2026
April 2026
May 2026
June 2026
July 2026
August 2026
September 2026
October 2026
November 2026
December 2026
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3h+ dark window 1h 30m – 3h 1h – 1h 30m. Select a night to see its times.
| Night | Dark window | Length | Moon | Core |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu 29 Jan | 3:38 am – 4:38 am | 1h 00m | Down (87%) | ESE 118° → ESE 111°, up to 22° |
| Thu 12 Feb | 2:42 am – 4:52 am | 2h 10m | Up, 23% lit | ESE 118° → ESE 104°, up to 36° |
| Fri 13 Feb | 2:40 am – 4:50 am | 2h 10m | Up, 15% lit | ESE 118° → ESE 103°, up to 36° |
| Sat 14 Feb | 2:39 am – 4:59 am | 2h 20m | Up, 9% lit | ESE 117° → ESE 102°, up to 39° |
| Sun 15 Feb | 2:28 am – 4:58 am | 2h 30m | Up, 4% lit | ESE 118° → ESE 102°, up to 39° |
| Mon 16 Feb | 2:26 am – 4:56 am | 2h 30m | Down (1%) | ESE 118° → ESE 102°, up to 40° |
| Tue 17 Feb | 2:25 am – 4:55 am | 2h 30m | Down (0%) | ESE 118° → ESE 101°, up to 40° |
| Wed 18 Feb | 2:24 am – 5:04 am | 2h 40m | Down (1%) | ESE 117° → E 100°, up to 43° |
| Thu 19 Feb | 2:12 am – 5:02 am | 2h 50m | Down (5%) | ESE 118° → E 100°, up to 44° |
| Fri 20 Feb | 2:11 am – 5:01 am | 2h 50m | Down (11%) | ESE 118° → E 99°, up to 44° |
| Sat 21 Feb | 2:09 am – 4:59 am | 2h 50m | Down (19%) | ESE 118° → E 99°, up to 45° |
| Sun 22 Feb | 2:08 am – 5:08 am | 3h 00m | Down (29%) | ESE 117° → E 98°, up to 47° |
| Mon 23 Feb | 1:57 am – 5:07 am | 3h 10m | Down (40%) | ESE 118° → E 98°, up to 48° |
| Tue 24 Feb | 1:55 am – 5:05 am | 3h 10m | Down (52%) | ESE 118° → E 97°, up to 48° |
| Wed 25 Feb | 1:54 am – 5:04 am | 3h 10m | Down (63%) | ESE 118° → E 97°, up to 49° |
| Thu 26 Feb | 1:52 am – 5:12 am | 3h 20m | Down (74%) | ESE 117° → E 96°, up to 51° |
| Fri 27 Feb | 2:51 am – 5:11 am | 2h 20m | Down (84%) | ESE 110° → E 95°, up to 52° |
| Sat 28 Feb | 3:59 am – 5:09 am | 1h 10m | Down (91%) | ESE 103° → E 95°, up to 52° |
| Sat 14 Mar | 12:49 am – 5:29 am | 4h 40m | Up, 21% lit | ESE 117° → E 84°, up to 68° |
| Sun 15 Mar | 12:38 am – 5:28 am | 4h 50m | Up, 13% lit | ESE 118° → E 84°, up to 68° |
| Mon 16 Mar | 12:36 am – 5:26 am | 4h 50m | Up, 7% lit | ESE 118° → E 83°, up to 69° |
| Tue 17 Mar | 12:35 am – 5:25 am | 4h 50m | Down (3%) | ESE 118° → E 83°, up to 69° |
| Wed 18 Mar | 12:33 am – 5:33 am | 5h 00m | Down (0%) | ESE 117° → E 80°, up to 72° |
| Thu 19 Mar | 12:22 am – 5:32 am | 5h 10m | Down (0%) | ESE 118° → E 79°, up to 72° |
| Fri 20 Mar | 12:20 am – 5:30 am | 5h 10m | Down (3%) | ESE 118° → ENE 79°, up to 73° |
| Sat 21 Mar | 12:19 am – 5:29 am | 5h 10m | Down (8%) | ESE 118° → ENE 78°, up to 73° |
| Sun 22 Mar | 12:17 am – 5:27 am | 5h 10m | Down (15%) | ESE 117° → ENE 77°, up to 74° |
| Mon 23 Mar | 12:06 am – 5:36 am | 5h 30m | Down (25%) | ESE 118° → ENE 73°, up to 76° |
| Tue 24 Mar | 12:05 am – 5:35 am | 5h 30m | Down (36%) | ESE 118° → ENE 72°, up to 77° |
| Wed 25 Mar | 12:03 am – 5:33 am | 5h 30m | Down (47%) | ESE 118° → ENE 71°, up to 77° |
| Thu 26 Mar | 12:32 am – 5:32 am | 5h 00m | Down (59%) | ESE 114° → ENE 70°, up to 78° |
| Fri 27 Mar | 1:40 am – 5:40 am | 4h 00m | Down (70%) | ESE 106° → ENE 62°, up to 80° |
| Sat 28 Mar | 2:59 am – 5:39 am | 2h 40m | Down (80%) | E 97° → ENE 61°, up to 81° |
| Sun 29 Mar | 4:08 am – 5:38 am | 1h 30m | Down (88%) | E 88° → ENE 58°, up to 81° |
| Fri 10 Apr | 10:02 pm – 11:12 pm | 1h 10m | Down (46%) | ESE 118° → ESE 110°, up to 25° |
| Sat 11 Apr | 10:00 pm – 12:20 am | 2h 20m | Down (36%) | ESE 117° → ESE 102°, up to 39° |
| Sun 12 Apr | 9:49 pm – 1:19 am | 3h 30m | Down (27%) | ESE 118° → E 95°, up to 52° |
| Mon 13 Apr | 9:48 pm – 4:48 am | 7h 00m | Up, 18% lit | ESE 118° → NNE 11°, up to 85° |
| Tue 14 Apr | 9:47 pm – 4:47 am | 7h 00m | Up, 10% lit | ESE 117° → N 4°, up to 85° |
| Wed 15 Apr | 9:36 pm – 4:46 am | 7h 10m | Up, 5% lit | ESE 118° → N 357°, up to 85° |
| Thu 16 Apr | 9:35 pm – 4:55 am | 7h 20m | Down (1%) | ESE 118° → N 350°, up to 85° |
| Fri 17 Apr | 9:33 pm – 4:53 am | 7h 20m | Down (0%) | ESE 118° → N 9°, up to 85° |
| Sat 18 Apr | 9:32 pm – 4:52 am | 7h 20m | Down (2%) | ESE 117° → N 2°, up to 85° |
| Sun 19 Apr | 9:21 pm – 4:51 am | 7h 30m | Down (6%) | ESE 118° → N 354°, up to 85° |
| Mon 20 Apr | 9:20 pm – 4:50 am | 7h 30m | Down (13%) | ESE 118° → NNE 13°, up to 85° |
| Tue 21 Apr | 9:19 pm – 4:49 am | 7h 30m | Down (22%) | ESE 117° → N 5°, up to 85° |
| Wed 22 Apr | 9:18 pm – 4:58 am | 7h 40m | Down (32%) | ESE 117° → N 358°, up to 85° |
| Thu 23 Apr | 10:27 pm – 4:57 am | 6h 30m | Down (43%) | ESE 109° → N 351°, up to 85° |
| Fri 24 Apr | 11:36 pm – 4:56 am | 5h 20m | Down (55%) | E 101° → N 9°, up to 85° |
| Sat 25 Apr | 12:45 am – 4:55 am | 4h 10m | Down (66%) | E 93° → N 1°, up to 85° |
| Sun 26 Apr | 1:54 am – 4:54 am | 3h 00m | Down (76%) | E 81° → N 354°, up to 85° |
| Mon 27 Apr | 3:03 am – 4:53 am | 1h 50m | Down (84%) | NNE 34° → NNE 12°, up to 85° |
| Tue 28 Apr | 4:02 am – 5:02 am | 1h 00m | Down (91%) | WNW 292°, up to 79° |
| Fri 8 May | 8:13 pm – 10:03 pm | 1h 50m | Down (62%) | ESE 117° → ESE 105°, up to 33° |
| Sat 9 May | 8:03 pm – 11:13 pm | 3h 10m | Down (52%) | ESE 118° → E 97°, up to 48° |
| Sun 10 May | 8:02 pm – 12:12 am | 4h 10m | Down (42%) | ESE 118° → E 90°, up to 61° |
| Mon 11 May | 8:01 pm – 1:11 am | 5h 10m | Down (32%) | ESE 117° → ENE 77°, up to 74° |
| Tue 12 May | 7:51 pm – 5:11 am | 9h 20m | Up, 22% lit | ESE 118° → N 354°, up to 85° |
| Wed 13 May | 7:50 pm – 5:10 am | 9h 20m | Up, 14% lit | ESE 118° → NNE 12°, up to 85° |
| Thu 14 May | 7:49 pm – 5:09 am | 9h 20m | Up, 7% lit | ESE 117° → N 3°, up to 85° |
| Fri 15 May | 7:39 pm – 5:09 am | 9h 30m | Down (2%) | ESE 118° → N 354°, up to 85° |
| Sat 16 May | 7:38 pm – 5:08 am | 9h 30m | Down (0%) | ESE 118° → NNE 11°, up to 85° |
| Sun 17 May | 7:38 pm – 5:08 am | 9h 30m | Down (1%) | ESE 117° → N 3°, up to 85° |
| Mon 18 May | 7:27 pm – 5:07 am | 9h 40m | Down (5%) | ESE 118° → N 354°, up to 85° |
| Tue 19 May | 7:27 pm – 5:07 am | 9h 40m | Down (11%) | ESE 118° → N 11°, up to 85° |
| Wed 20 May | 7:26 pm – 5:16 am | 9h 50m | Up, 19% lit | ESE 117° → N 2°, up to 85° |
| Thu 21 May | 9:26 pm – 5:16 am | 7h 50m | Down (29%) | ESE 104° → N 353°, up to 85° |
| Fri 22 May | 10:35 pm – 5:15 am | 6h 40m | Down (39%) | E 96° → N 10°, up to 85° |
| Sat 23 May | 11:45 pm – 5:15 am | 5h 30m | Down (51%) | E 86° → N 1°, up to 85° |
| Sun 24 May | 12:45 am – 5:15 am | 4h 30m | Down (61%) | ENE 67° → N 352°, up to 85° |
| Mon 25 May | 1:44 am – 5:14 am | 3h 30m | Down (71%) | NW 322°, up to 84° |
| Tue 26 May | 2:54 am – 5:14 am | 2h 20m | Down (80%) | W 278°, up to 70° |
| Wed 27 May | 3:54 am – 5:14 am | 1h 20m | Down (88%) | W 268°, up to 57° |
| Thu 4 Jun | 6:22 pm – 7:52 pm | 1h 30m | Down (84%) | ESE 118° → ESE 108°, up to 28° |
| Fri 5 Jun | 6:22 pm – 9:02 pm | 2h 40m | Down (77%) | ESE 117° → E 100°, up to 43° |
| Sat 6 Jun | 6:22 pm – 10:02 pm | 3h 40m | Down (67%) | ESE 117° → E 93°, up to 56° |
| Sun 7 Jun | 6:22 pm – 11:02 pm | 4h 40m | Down (57%) | ESE 117° → E 83°, up to 69° |
| Mon 8 Jun | 6:22 pm – 12:02 am | 5h 40m | Down (47%) | ESE 116° → NE 56°, up to 82° |
| Tue 9 Jun | 6:21 pm – 1:11 am | 6h 50m | Down (36%) | ESE 116° → N 352°, up to 85° |
| Wed 10 Jun | 6:21 pm – 2:11 am | 7h 50m | Down (26%) | ESE 115° → N 8°, up to 85° |
| Thu 11 Jun | 6:22 pm – 5:22 am | 11h 00m | Up, 16% lit | ESE 115° → N 357°, up to 85° |
| Fri 12 Jun | 6:22 pm – 5:22 am | 11h 00m | Up, 9% lit | ESE 114° → NNW 347°, up to 85° |
| Sat 13 Jun | 6:22 pm – 5:22 am | 11h 00m | Down (3%) | ESE 114° → N 3°, up to 85° |
| Sun 14 Jun | 6:22 pm – 5:22 am | 11h 00m | Down (1%) | ESE 113° → N 352°, up to 85° |
| Mon 15 Jun | 6:22 pm – 5:22 am | 11h 00m | Down (1%) | ESE 113° → N 8°, up to 85° |
| Tue 16 Jun | 6:22 pm – 5:22 am | 11h 00m | Down (3%) | ESE 112° → N 357°, up to 85° |
| Wed 17 Jun | 6:22 pm – 5:22 am | 11h 00m | Up, 9% lit | ESE 112° → NNE 13°, up to 85° |
| Thu 18 Jun | 6:22 pm – 5:22 am | 11h 00m | Up, 16% lit | ESE 112° → N 2°, up to 85° |
| Fri 19 Jun | 9:22 pm – 5:22 am | 8h 00m | Down (25%) | E 91° → N 352°, up to 85° |
| Sat 20 Jun | 10:33 pm – 5:23 am | 6h 50m | Down (35%) | ENE 78° → N 7°, up to 85° |
| Sun 21 Jun | 11:33 pm – 5:23 am | 5h 50m | Down (46%) | NNE 21° → N 356°, up to 85° |
| Mon 22 Jun | 12:43 am – 5:23 am | 4h 40m | Down (57%) | WNW 285°, up to 75° |
| Tue 23 Jun | 1:43 am – 5:23 am | 3h 40m | Down (67%) | W 271°, up to 62° |
| Wed 24 Jun | 2:43 am – 5:23 am | 2h 40m | Down (76%) | W 263°, up to 49° |
| Thu 25 Jun | 3:34 am – 5:24 am | 1h 50m | Down (83%) | WSW 257°, up to 37° |
| Fri 3 Jul | 6:26 pm – 7:46 pm | 1h 20m | Down (88%) | ESE 105° → E 96°, up to 50° |
| Sat 4 Jul | 6:27 pm – 8:47 pm | 2h 20m | Down (81%) | ESE 104° → E 88°, up to 63° |
| Sun 5 Jul | 6:27 pm – 9:47 pm | 3h 20m | Down (72%) | ESE 104° → ENE 73°, up to 77° |
| Mon 6 Jul | 6:28 pm – 10:58 pm | 4h 30m | Down (62%) | ESE 103° → NNE 12°, up to 85° |
| Tue 7 Jul | 6:28 pm – 11:58 pm | 5h 30m | Down (51%) | ESE 103° → N 1°, up to 85° |
| Wed 8 Jul | 6:28 pm – 1:08 am | 6h 40m | Down (40%) | ESE 103° → N 350°, up to 85° |
| Thu 9 Jul | 6:29 pm – 2:19 am | 7h 50m | Down (29%) | ESE 102° → N 4°, up to 85° |
| Fri 10 Jul | 6:29 pm – 4:49 am | 10h 20m | Up, 19% lit | ESE 102° → N 353°, up to 85° |
| Sat 11 Jul | 6:30 pm – 4:50 am | 10h 20m | Up, 11% lit | E 101° → N 7°, up to 85° |
| Sun 12 Jul | 6:30 pm – 4:40 am | 10h 10m | Down (4%) | E 101° → N 356°, up to 85° |
| Mon 13 Jul | 6:31 pm – 4:41 am | 10h 10m | Down (1%) | E 100° → N 10°, up to 85° |
| Tue 14 Jul | 6:31 pm – 4:31 am | 10h 00m | Down (0%) | E 100° → N 359°, up to 85° |
| Wed 15 Jul | 6:32 pm – 4:32 am | 10h 00m | Down (2%) | E 99° → NNW 348°, up to 85° |
| Thu 16 Jul | 6:32 pm – 4:32 am | 10h 00m | Up, 7% lit | E 99° → N 2°, up to 85° |
| Fri 17 Jul | 6:33 pm – 4:23 am | 9h 50m | Up, 13% lit | E 98° → N 350°, up to 85° |
| Sat 18 Jul | 6:33 pm – 4:23 am | 9h 50m | Up, 22% lit | E 98° → N 5°, up to 85° |
| Sun 19 Jul | 10:24 pm – 4:14 am | 5h 50m | Down (31%) | WNW 303°, up to 82° |
| Mon 20 Jul | 11:24 pm – 4:14 am | 4h 50m | Down (41%) | W 277°, up to 69° |
| Tue 21 Jul | 12:25 am – 4:05 am | 3h 40m | Down (51%) | W 267°, up to 55° |
| Wed 22 Jul | 1:25 am – 4:05 am | 2h 40m | Down (61%) | W 260°, up to 42° |
| Thu 23 Jul | 2:26 am – 3:56 am | 1h 30m | Down (70%) | WSW 253°, up to 29° |
| Sat 1 Aug | 6:41 pm – 7:41 pm | 1h 00m | Down (92%) | E 90° → E 79°, up to 72° |
| Sun 2 Aug | 6:41 pm – 8:41 pm | 2h 00m | Down (85%) | E 90° → NE 34°, up to 84° |
| Mon 3 Aug | 6:42 pm – 9:42 pm | 3h 00m | Down (76%) | E 89° → N 0°, up to 85° |
| Tue 4 Aug | 6:43 pm – 10:53 pm | 4h 10m | Down (66%) | E 88° → N 349°, up to 85° |
| Wed 5 Aug | 6:43 pm – 12:03 am | 5h 20m | Down (55%) | E 88° → N 3°, up to 85° |
| Thu 6 Aug | 6:44 pm – 1:14 am | 6h 30m | Down (43%) | E 87° → N 351°, up to 85° |
| Fri 7 Aug | 6:44 pm – 2:24 am | 7h 40m | Down (32%) | E 86° → N 5°, up to 85° |
| Sat 8 Aug | 6:45 pm – 2:55 am | 8h 10m | Down (21%) | E 85° → N 354°, up to 85° |
| Sun 9 Aug | 6:45 pm – 2:55 am | 8h 10m | Down (13%) | E 85° → N 8°, up to 85° |
| Mon 10 Aug | 6:46 pm – 2:46 am | 8h 00m | Down (6%) | E 84° → N 356°, up to 85° |
| Tue 11 Aug | 6:47 pm – 2:47 am | 8h 00m | Down (2%) | E 83° → N 10°, up to 85° |
| Wed 12 Aug | 6:47 pm – 2:37 am | 7h 50m | Down (0%) | E 82° → N 359°, up to 85° |
| Thu 13 Aug | 6:48 pm – 2:38 am | 7h 50m | Down (1%) | E 81° → NNE 13°, up to 85° |
| Fri 14 Aug | 6:48 pm – 2:38 am | 7h 50m | Up, 5% lit | E 80° → N 1°, up to 85° |
| Sat 15 Aug | 6:49 pm – 2:29 am | 7h 40m | Up, 10% lit | ENE 79° → N 350°, up to 85° |
| Sun 16 Aug | 6:50 pm – 2:30 am | 7h 40m | Up, 18% lit | ENE 77° → N 4°, up to 85° |
| Mon 17 Aug | 10:20 pm – 2:20 am | 4h 00m | Down (26%) | W 269°, up to 59° |
| Tue 18 Aug | 11:21 pm – 2:21 am | 3h 00m | Down (35%) | W 262°, up to 46° |
| Wed 19 Aug | 12:21 am – 2:11 am | 1h 50m | Down (45%) | WSW 255°, up to 33° |
| Mon 31 Aug | 6:59 pm – 8:39 pm | 1h 40m | Down (88%) | N 9°, up to 85° |
| Tue 1 Sep | 6:59 pm – 9:39 pm | 2h 40m | Down (79%) | N 357°, up to 85° |
| Wed 2 Sep | 7:00 pm – 10:50 pm | 3h 50m | Down (69%) | NNW 345°, up to 85° |
| Thu 3 Sep | 7:01 pm – 12:11 am | 5h 10m | Down (58%) | NNW 335°, up to 85° |
| Fri 4 Sep | 7:01 pm – 1:11 am | 6h 10m | Down (47%) | NW 326°, up to 84° |
| Sat 5 Sep | 7:02 pm – 1:02 am | 6h 00m | Down (35%) | NW 318°, up to 84° |
| Sun 6 Sep | 7:03 pm – 1:03 am | 6h 00m | Down (24%) | NW 312°, up to 83° |
| Mon 7 Sep | 7:03 pm – 1:03 am | 6h 00m | Down (15%) | NW 306°, up to 82° |
| Tue 8 Sep | 7:04 pm – 12:54 am | 5h 50m | Down (8%) | WNW 302°, up to 81° |
| Wed 9 Sep | 7:05 pm – 12:55 am | 5h 50m | Down (3%) | WNW 298°, up to 81° |
| Thu 10 Sep | 7:05 pm – 12:45 am | 5h 40m | Down (0%) | WNW 295°, up to 80° |
| Fri 11 Sep | 7:06 pm – 12:46 am | 5h 40m | Down (0%) | WNW 293°, up to 79° |
| Sat 12 Sep | 7:07 pm – 12:37 am | 5h 30m | Down (3%) | WNW 290°, up to 78° |
| Sun 13 Sep | 7:07 pm – 12:37 am | 5h 30m | Up, 7% lit | WNW 288°, up to 77° |
| Mon 14 Sep | 7:08 pm – 12:28 am | 5h 20m | Up, 14% lit | WNW 286°, up to 76° |
| Tue 15 Sep | 7:09 pm – 12:29 am | 5h 20m | Up, 21% lit | WNW 285°, up to 75° |
| Wed 16 Sep | 11:09 pm – 12:19 am | 1h 10m | Down (29%) | WSW 251°, up to 25° |
| Tue 29 Sep | 7:19 pm – 8:39 pm | 1h 20m | Down (90%) | W 271°, up to 62° |
| Wed 30 Sep | 7:20 pm – 9:50 pm | 2h 30m | Down (83%) | W 270°, up to 61° |
| Thu 1 Oct | 7:21 pm – 11:01 pm | 3h 40m | Down (73%) | W 269°, up to 60° |
| Fri 2 Oct | 7:22 pm – 11:22 pm | 4h 00m | Down (62%) | W 269°, up to 59° |
| Sat 3 Oct | 7:23 pm – 11:13 pm | 3h 50m | Down (50%) | W 268°, up to 58° |
| Sun 4 Oct | 8:24 pm – 12:14 am | 3h 50m | Down (39%) | W 268°, up to 57° |
| Mon 5 Oct | 8:25 pm – 12:05 am | 3h 40m | Down (27%) | W 267°, up to 56° |
| Tue 6 Oct | 8:26 pm – 12:06 am | 3h 40m | Down (18%) | W 266°, up to 55° |
| Wed 7 Oct | 8:26 pm – 11:56 pm | 3h 30m | Down (10%) | W 266°, up to 54° |
| Thu 8 Oct | 8:27 pm – 11:57 pm | 3h 30m | Down (4%) | W 265°, up to 53° |
| Fri 9 Oct | 8:28 pm – 11:48 pm | 3h 20m | Down (1%) | W 265°, up to 52° |
| Sat 10 Oct | 8:29 pm – 11:49 pm | 3h 20m | Down (0%) | W 264°, up to 51° |
| Sun 11 Oct | 8:30 pm – 11:50 pm | 3h 20m | Down (1%) | W 264°, up to 50° |
| Mon 12 Oct | 8:31 pm – 11:41 pm | 3h 10m | Up, 4% lit | W 263°, up to 49° |
| Tue 13 Oct | 8:32 pm – 11:42 pm | 3h 10m | Up, 9% lit | W 262°, up to 48° |
| Wed 14 Oct | 8:33 pm – 11:33 pm | 3h 00m | Up, 16% lit | W 262°, up to 47° |
| Thu 15 Oct | 8:34 pm – 11:34 pm | 3h 00m | Up, 23% lit | W 261°, up to 45° |
| Thu 29 Oct | 8:50 pm – 10:30 pm | 1h 40m | Down (86%) | WSW 254°, up to 31° |
| Fri 30 Oct | 8:51 pm – 10:31 pm | 1h 40m | Down (77%) | WSW 253°, up to 30° |
| Sat 31 Oct | 8:52 pm – 10:22 pm | 1h 30m | Down (66%) | WSW 253°, up to 29° |
| Sun 1 Nov | 8:53 pm – 10:23 pm | 1h 30m | Down (54%) | WSW 252°, up to 28° |
| Mon 2 Nov | 8:55 pm – 10:15 pm | 1h 20m | Down (43%) | WSW 252°, up to 27° |
| Tue 3 Nov | 8:56 pm – 10:16 pm | 1h 20m | Down (32%) | WSW 251°, up to 26° |
| Wed 4 Nov | 8:57 pm – 10:07 pm | 1h 10m | Down (22%) | WSW 251°, up to 25° |
| Thu 5 Nov | 8:58 pm – 10:08 pm | 1h 10m | Down (13%) | WSW 250°, up to 24° |
| Fri 6 Nov | 9:00 pm – 10:00 pm | 1h 00m | Down (7%) | WSW 250°, up to 23° |
| Sat 7 Nov | 9:01 pm – 10:01 pm | 1h 00m | Down (3%) | WSW 249°, up to 22° |
Across New South Wales
The calendar above is worked out for Sydney. The moon sets the season's first and last nights, so they barely move across NSW. What changes is how high the core climbs and how long the dark windows run.
| Town | Great nights | Good nights | Longest window | Best month | Highest core |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney | 131 | 33 | 11h 00m | June | 85° |
| Coonabarabran | 131 | 35 | 10h 50m | June | 88° |
| Broken Hill | 130 | 35 | 11h 00m | June | 87° |
Dark-sky sites in New South Wales
Sydney's own sky is too bright to show the core well. These spots are dark enough to see it with the naked eye on a good night.
- Warrumbungle National Park, 355 km from Sydney. Australia's first Dark Sky Park, beside Siding Spring Observatory.
- Capertee Valley, 135 km from Sydney. A wide valley under sandstone cliffs, about three hours from Sydney.
- Mungo National Park, 746 km from Sydney. A dry outback lakebed with flat, open horizons.
- Charlotte Pass, Kosciuszko National Park, 387 km from Sydney. High alpine country with cold, clear winter nights.
Questions
When is the best time to see the Milky Way in New South Wales in 2026?
June and July. In June, 18 nights from Sydney have a dark core window of 3 hours or more, and the typical window is 6h 50m. Plan around the new moon: the nights either side of full moon drop out.
How high does the Milky Way core get in New South Wales?
From Sydney it climbs to 85° above the northern horizon. In Coonabarabran it reaches 88°. The higher the core, the less haze and light glow it shines through.
When does the Milky Way season start and end in New South Wales?
In 2026 the first night with the core up in a dark sky is 29 January, and the last is 7 November. Early in the season the core rises before dawn; by the end it is low in the west soon after dusk.
What time is the core up in June?
On June 15 it is more than 10° up from 5:40 pm to 6:30 am Sydney time. The dark part of that is the window shown for each night above.