Milky Way Calendar Tasmania 2026
From Hobart, the core is up after dark from 12 February to 5 November 2026. Best months: June and July. It climbs to 76° above the northern horizon.
Next good night from Hobart: Thursday 5 November, 9:51 pm – 10:51 pm (1h 00m).
Times are Hobart 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 Hobart
| Month | Core up (15th) | Typical dark window | Great nights | Good nights | Best dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Core not up after dark | ||||
| February | 2:20 am – 4:00 pm | 2h 40m | 5 | 11 | 23 Feb, 25 Feb, 26 Feb |
| March | 12:30 am – 2:10 pm | 5h 10m | 14 | 2 | 20 Mar, 24 Mar, 25 Mar |
| April | 9:30 pm – 11:10 am | 7h 30m | 15 | 2 | 20 Apr, 21 Apr, 22 Apr |
| May | 7:30 pm – 9:10 am | 7h 50m | 17 | 2 | 16 May, 19 May, 20 May |
| June | 5:30 pm – 7:10 am | 7h 05m | 18 | 3 | 11 Jun, 12 Jun, 13 Jun |
| July | 3:30 pm – 5:10 am | 7h 10m | 17 | 3 | 10 Jul, 11 Jul, 12 Jul |
| August | 1:30 pm – 3:10 am | 7h 30m | 16 | 3 | 8 Aug, 9 Aug, 10 Aug |
| September | 11:30 am – 1:10 am | 5h 50m | 15 | 2 | 4 Sep, 5 Sep, 6 Sep |
| October | 10:30 am – 12:10 am | 3h 20m | 15 | 3 | 1 Oct, 2 Oct, 3 Oct |
| November | — | 1h 10m | 0 | 0 | 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 Hobart
January 2026
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February 2026
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April 2026
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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 12 Feb | 2:30 am – 4:40 am | 2h 10m | Up, 23% lit | ESE 120° → E 101°, up to 32° |
| Fri 13 Feb | 2:28 am – 4:38 am | 2h 10m | Up, 15% lit | ESE 120° → E 101°, up to 33° |
| Sat 14 Feb | 2:26 am – 4:36 am | 2h 10m | Up, 9% lit | ESE 120° → E 101°, up to 33° |
| Sun 15 Feb | 2:24 am – 4:44 am | 2h 20m | Up, 4% lit | ESE 119° → E 99°, up to 35° |
| Mon 16 Feb | 2:22 am – 4:42 am | 2h 20m | Down (1%) | ESE 119° → E 99°, up to 36° |
| Tue 17 Feb | 2:10 am – 4:50 am | 2h 40m | Down (0%) | ESE 120° → E 97°, up to 38° |
| Wed 18 Feb | 2:08 am – 4:48 am | 2h 40m | Down (1%) | ESE 120° → E 96°, up to 38° |
| Thu 19 Feb | 2:06 am – 4:46 am | 2h 40m | Down (5%) | ESE 120° → E 96°, up to 39° |
| Fri 20 Feb | 2:04 am – 4:54 am | 2h 50m | Down (11%) | ESE 119° → E 94°, up to 41° |
| Sat 21 Feb | 2:02 am – 4:52 am | 2h 50m | Down (19%) | ESE 119° → E 94°, up to 41° |
| Sun 22 Feb | 1:50 am – 4:50 am | 3h 00m | Down (29%) | ESE 120° → E 94°, up to 41° |
| Mon 23 Feb | 1:48 am – 4:58 am | 3h 10m | Down (40%) | ESE 120° → E 92°, up to 44° |
| Tue 24 Feb | 1:46 am – 4:56 am | 3h 10m | Down (52%) | ESE 120° → E 91°, up to 44° |
| Wed 25 Feb | 1:44 am – 5:04 am | 3h 20m | Down (63%) | ESE 120° → E 89°, up to 46° |
| Thu 26 Feb | 1:42 am – 5:02 am | 3h 20m | Down (74%) | ESE 119° → E 89°, up to 47° |
| Fri 27 Feb | 2:30 am – 5:00 am | 2h 30m | Down (84%) | ESE 112° → E 89°, up to 47° |
| Sat 28 Feb | 3:48 am – 5:08 am | 1h 20m | Down (91%) | E 100° → E 87°, up to 49° |
| Sat 14 Mar | 12:40 am – 5:30 am | 4h 50m | Up, 21% lit | ESE 119° → ENE 69°, up to 63° |
| Sun 15 Mar | 12:28 am – 5:28 am | 5h 00m | Up, 13% lit | ESE 120° → ENE 68°, up to 63° |
| Mon 16 Mar | 12:26 am – 5:26 am | 5h 00m | Up, 7% lit | ESE 120° → ENE 68°, up to 64° |
| Tue 17 Mar | 12:24 am – 5:34 am | 5h 10m | Down (3%) | ESE 120° → ENE 64°, up to 66° |
| Wed 18 Mar | 12:22 am – 5:32 am | 5h 10m | Down (0%) | ESE 119° → ENE 63°, up to 66° |
| Thu 19 Mar | 12:20 am – 5:30 am | 5h 10m | Down (0%) | ESE 119° → ENE 62°, up to 66° |
| Fri 20 Mar | 12:08 am – 5:38 am | 5h 30m | Down (3%) | ESE 120° → ENE 58°, up to 68° |
| Sat 21 Mar | 12:06 am – 5:36 am | 5h 30m | Down (8%) | ESE 120° → ENE 57°, up to 68° |
| Sun 22 Mar | 12:05 am – 5:35 am | 5h 30m | Down (16%) | ESE 120° → NE 56°, up to 69° |
| Mon 23 Mar | 12:03 am – 5:33 am | 5h 30m | Down (25%) | ESE 119° → NE 55°, up to 69° |
| Tue 24 Mar | 12:01 am – 5:41 am | 5h 40m | Down (36%) | ESE 119° → NE 49°, up to 71° |
| Wed 25 Mar | 11:49 pm – 5:39 am | 5h 50m | Down (47%) | ESE 120° → NE 48°, up to 71° |
| Thu 26 Mar | 12:17 am – 5:37 am | 5h 20m | Down (59%) | ESE 115° → NE 47°, up to 71° |
| Fri 27 Mar | 1:35 am – 5:45 am | 4h 10m | Down (70%) | ESE 103° → NE 40°, up to 73° |
| Sat 28 Mar | 2:53 am – 5:43 am | 2h 50m | Down (80%) | E 91° → NE 39°, up to 73° |
| Sun 29 Mar | 4:02 am – 5:42 am | 1h 40m | Down (88%) | ENE 77° → NE 37°, up to 73° |
| Fri 10 Apr | 9:51 pm – 11:01 pm | 1h 10m | Down (46%) | ESE 120° → ESE 109°, up to 23° |
| Sat 11 Apr | 9:49 pm – 12:09 am | 2h 20m | Down (36%) | ESE 119° → E 99°, up to 36° |
| Sun 12 Apr | 9:37 pm – 1:17 am | 3h 40m | Down (26%) | ESE 120° → E 87°, up to 49° |
| Mon 13 Apr | 9:36 pm – 5:06 am | 7h 30m | Up, 18% lit | ESE 120° → N 2°, up to 76° |
| Tue 14 Apr | 9:34 pm – 5:04 am | 7h 30m | Up, 10% lit | ESE 120° → N 0°, up to 76° |
| Wed 15 Apr | 9:33 pm – 5:03 am | 7h 30m | Up, 5% lit | ESE 119° → N 358°, up to 76° |
| Thu 16 Apr | 9:21 pm – 5:01 am | 7h 40m | Down (1%) | ESE 121° → N 5°, up to 76° |
| Fri 17 Apr | 9:20 pm – 5:10 am | 7h 50m | Down (0%) | ESE 120° → N 2°, up to 76° |
| Sat 18 Apr | 9:18 pm – 5:08 am | 7h 50m | Down (2%) | ESE 120° → N 0°, up to 76° |
| Sun 19 Apr | 9:17 pm – 5:07 am | 7h 50m | Down (6%) | ESE 119° → N 358°, up to 76° |
| Mon 20 Apr | 9:05 pm – 5:05 am | 8h 00m | Down (13%) | ESE 121° → N 356°, up to 76° |
| Tue 21 Apr | 9:04 pm – 5:14 am | 8h 10m | Down (22%) | ESE 120° → N 3°, up to 76° |
| Wed 22 Apr | 9:02 pm – 5:12 am | 8h 10m | Down (32%) | ESE 120° → N 0°, up to 76° |
| Thu 23 Apr | 10:11 pm – 5:11 am | 7h 00m | Down (43%) | ESE 109° → N 358°, up to 76° |
| Fri 24 Apr | 11:29 pm – 5:09 am | 5h 40m | Down (55%) | E 97° → N 5°, up to 76° |
| Sat 25 Apr | 12:48 am – 5:18 am | 4h 30m | Down (66%) | E 83° → N 2°, up to 76° |
| Sun 26 Apr | 2:07 am – 5:17 am | 3h 10m | Down (76%) | ENE 60° → N 0°, up to 76° |
| Mon 27 Apr | 3:15 am – 5:15 am | 2h 00m | Down (85%) | NNE 16° → N 358°, up to 76° |
| Fri 8 May | 8:03 pm – 9:53 pm | 1h 50m | Down (62%) | ESE 119° → ESE 103°, up to 30° |
| Sat 9 May | 7:52 pm – 11:02 pm | 3h 10m | Down (52%) | ESE 120° → E 92°, up to 43° |
| Sun 10 May | 7:51 pm – 12:11 am | 4h 20m | Down (42%) | ESE 120° → ENE 78°, up to 57° |
| Mon 11 May | 7:50 pm – 1:20 am | 5h 30m | Down (31%) | ESE 119° → NE 55°, up to 69° |
| Tue 12 May | 7:39 pm – 5:29 am | 9h 50m | Up, 22% lit | ESE 121° → N 5°, up to 76° |
| Wed 13 May | 7:38 pm – 5:28 am | 9h 50m | Up, 13% lit | ESE 120° → N 2°, up to 76° |
| Thu 14 May | 7:37 pm – 5:37 am | 10h 00m | Up, 7% lit | ESE 120° → N 359°, up to 76° |
| Fri 15 May | 7:36 pm – 5:36 am | 10h 00m | Down (2%) | ESE 119° → N 356°, up to 76° |
| Sat 16 May | 7:25 pm – 5:35 am | 10h 10m | Down (0%) | ESE 120° → N 3°, up to 76° |
| Sun 17 May | 7:25 pm – 5:35 am | 10h 10m | Down (1%) | ESE 120° → N 0°, up to 76° |
| Mon 18 May | 7:24 pm – 5:34 am | 10h 10m | Down (5%) | ESE 119° → N 357°, up to 76° |
| Tue 19 May | 7:13 pm – 5:33 am | 10h 20m | Down (11%) | ESE 120° → N 3°, up to 76° |
| Wed 20 May | 7:12 pm – 5:32 am | 10h 20m | Up, 19% lit | ESE 120° → N 0°, up to 76° |
| Thu 21 May | 9:12 pm – 5:42 am | 8h 30m | Down (29%) | ESE 102° → N 357°, up to 76° |
| Fri 22 May | 10:31 pm – 5:41 am | 7h 10m | Down (40%) | E 88° → N 3°, up to 76° |
| Sat 23 May | 11:50 pm – 5:40 am | 5h 50m | Down (51%) | ENE 70° → N 0°, up to 76° |
| Sun 24 May | 1:00 am – 5:40 am | 4h 40m | Down (62%) | NE 38° → N 357°, up to 76° |
| Mon 25 May | 2:09 am – 5:39 am | 3h 30m | Down (72%) | NNW 337°, up to 75° |
| Tue 26 May | 3:19 am – 5:39 am | 2h 20m | Down (80%) | WNW 296°, up to 66° |
| Wed 27 May | 4:18 am – 5:38 am | 1h 20m | Down (88%) | W 279°, up to 55° |
| Thu 4 Jun | 6:25 pm – 7:45 pm | 1h 20m | Down (84%) | ESE 118° → ESE 106°, up to 26° |
| Fri 5 Jun | 6:25 pm – 8:55 pm | 2h 30m | Down (76%) | ESE 117° → E 95°, up to 40° |
| Sat 6 Jun | 6:25 pm – 10:05 pm | 3h 40m | Down (67%) | ESE 117° → E 82°, up to 53° |
| Sun 7 Jun | 6:25 pm – 11:05 pm | 4h 40m | Down (57%) | ESE 116° → ENE 66°, up to 64° |
| Mon 8 Jun | 6:24 pm – 12:14 am | 5h 50m | Down (47%) | ESE 116° → NNE 29°, up to 75° |
| Tue 9 Jun | 6:24 pm – 1:24 am | 7h 00m | Down (36%) | ESE 115° → N 0°, up to 76° |
| Wed 10 Jun | 6:24 pm – 2:44 am | 8h 20m | Down (26%) | ESE 115° → N 356°, up to 76° |
| Thu 11 Jun | 6:24 pm – 5:54 am | 11h 30m | Up, 16% lit | ESE 114° → N 2°, up to 76° |
| Fri 12 Jun | 6:24 pm – 5:54 am | 11h 30m | Up, 9% lit | ESE 113° → N 358°, up to 76° |
| Sat 13 Jun | 6:24 pm – 5:54 am | 11h 30m | Down (3%) | ESE 113° → N 4°, up to 76° |
| Sun 14 Jun | 6:24 pm – 5:54 am | 11h 30m | Down (1%) | ESE 112° → N 0°, up to 76° |
| Mon 15 Jun | 6:24 pm – 5:54 am | 11h 30m | Down (1%) | ESE 112° → N 356°, up to 76° |
| Tue 16 Jun | 6:24 pm – 5:54 am | 11h 30m | Down (3%) | ESE 111° → N 2°, up to 76° |
| Wed 17 Jun | 6:24 pm – 5:54 am | 11h 30m | Up, 9% lit | ESE 111° → N 358°, up to 76° |
| Thu 18 Jun | 6:24 pm – 5:54 am | 11h 30m | Up, 16% lit | ESE 110° → N 4°, up to 76° |
| Fri 19 Jun | 9:25 pm – 5:55 am | 8h 30m | Down (25%) | E 80° → N 0°, up to 76° |
| Sat 20 Jun | 10:45 pm – 5:55 am | 7h 10m | Down (36%) | NE 54° → N 356°, up to 76° |
| Sun 21 Jun | 11:55 pm – 5:55 am | 6h 00m | Down (46%) | N 2°, up to 76° |
| Mon 22 Jun | 1:05 am – 5:55 am | 4h 50m | Down (57%) | NW 308°, up to 70° |
| Tue 23 Jun | 2:05 am – 5:55 am | 3h 50m | Down (67%) | WNW 286°, up to 59° |
| Wed 24 Jun | 3:16 am – 5:56 am | 2h 40m | Down (76%) | W 270°, up to 46° |
| Thu 25 Jun | 4:16 am – 5:56 am | 1h 40m | Down (83%) | W 260°, up to 34° |
| Fri 3 Jul | 6:29 pm – 7:49 pm | 1h 20m | Down (88%) | E 101° → E 88°, up to 48° |
| Sat 4 Jul | 6:30 pm – 8:50 pm | 2h 20m | Down (81%) | E 100° → ENE 74°, up to 59° |
| Sun 5 Jul | 6:30 pm – 10:00 pm | 3h 30m | Down (72%) | E 99° → NE 47°, up to 71° |
| Mon 6 Jul | 6:31 pm – 11:11 pm | 4h 40m | Down (62%) | E 99° → N 357°, up to 76° |
| Tue 7 Jul | 6:31 pm – 12:21 am | 5h 50m | Down (51%) | E 98° → N 2°, up to 76° |
| Wed 8 Jul | 6:32 pm – 1:42 am | 7h 10m | Down (40%) | E 97° → N 358°, up to 76° |
| Thu 9 Jul | 6:32 pm – 3:02 am | 8h 30m | Down (29%) | E 97° → N 3°, up to 76° |
| Fri 10 Jul | 6:33 pm – 5:33 am | 11h 00m | Up, 19% lit | E 96° → N 359°, up to 76° |
| Sat 11 Jul | 6:34 pm – 5:24 am | 10h 50m | Down (11%) | E 95° → N 4°, up to 76° |
| Sun 12 Jul | 6:34 pm – 5:24 am | 10h 50m | Down (4%) | E 94° → N 0°, up to 76° |
| Mon 13 Jul | 6:35 pm – 5:25 am | 10h 50m | Down (1%) | E 94° → N 356°, up to 76° |
| Tue 14 Jul | 6:35 pm – 5:15 am | 10h 40m | Down (0%) | E 93° → N 1°, up to 76° |
| Wed 15 Jul | 6:36 pm – 5:16 am | 10h 40m | Down (2%) | E 92° → N 357°, up to 76° |
| Thu 16 Jul | 6:37 pm – 5:07 am | 10h 30m | Up, 7% lit | E 91° → N 1°, up to 76° |
| Fri 17 Jul | 6:37 pm – 5:07 am | 10h 30m | Up, 13% lit | E 91° → N 357°, up to 76° |
| Sat 18 Jul | 6:38 pm – 4:58 am | 10h 20m | Up, 22% lit | E 90° → N 2°, up to 76° |
| Sun 19 Jul | 10:49 pm – 4:59 am | 6h 10m | Down (31%) | NW 325°, up to 74° |
| Mon 20 Jul | 11:50 pm – 4:50 am | 5h 00m | Down (41%) | WNW 294°, up to 64° |
| Tue 21 Jul | 1:00 am – 4:50 am | 3h 50m | Down (51%) | W 276°, up to 51° |
| Wed 22 Jul | 2:11 am – 4:41 am | 2h 30m | Down (61%) | W 263°, up to 37° |
| Thu 23 Jul | 3:12 am – 4:42 am | 1h 30m | Down (70%) | WSW 253°, up to 26° |
| Sat 1 Aug | 6:49 pm – 7:49 pm | 1h 00m | Down (91%) | ENE 77° → ENE 59°, up to 68° |
| Sun 2 Aug | 6:50 pm – 9:00 pm | 2h 10m | Down (85%) | ENE 76° → N 11°, up to 76° |
| Mon 3 Aug | 6:51 pm – 10:11 pm | 3h 20m | Down (76%) | ENE 75° → N 357°, up to 76° |
| Tue 4 Aug | 6:52 pm – 11:22 pm | 4h 30m | Down (66%) | ENE 73° → N 2°, up to 76° |
| Wed 5 Aug | 6:52 pm – 12:42 am | 5h 50m | Down (55%) | ENE 72° → N 358°, up to 76° |
| Thu 6 Aug | 6:53 pm – 1:53 am | 7h 00m | Down (43%) | ENE 71° → N 2°, up to 76° |
| Fri 7 Aug | 6:54 pm – 3:14 am | 8h 20m | Down (32%) | ENE 69° → N 358°, up to 76° |
| Sat 8 Aug | 6:55 pm – 3:35 am | 8h 40m | Down (21%) | ENE 68° → N 3°, up to 76° |
| Sun 9 Aug | 6:56 pm – 3:36 am | 8h 40m | Down (12%) | ENE 66° → N 358°, up to 76° |
| Mon 10 Aug | 6:57 pm – 3:27 am | 8h 30m | Down (6%) | ENE 65° → N 3°, up to 76° |
| Tue 11 Aug | 6:58 pm – 3:28 am | 8h 30m | Down (2%) | ENE 63° → N 359°, up to 76° |
| Wed 12 Aug | 6:59 pm – 3:19 am | 8h 20m | Down (0%) | ENE 61° → N 3°, up to 76° |
| Thu 13 Aug | 7:00 pm – 3:20 am | 8h 20m | Down (1%) | ENE 59° → N 359°, up to 76° |
| Fri 14 Aug | 7:00 pm – 3:10 am | 8h 10m | Up, 5% lit | ENE 57° → N 4°, up to 76° |
| Sat 15 Aug | 7:01 pm – 3:11 am | 8h 10m | Up, 10% lit | NE 55° → N 359°, up to 76° |
| Sun 16 Aug | 7:02 pm – 3:02 am | 8h 00m | Up, 18% lit | NE 53° → N 4°, up to 76° |
| Mon 17 Aug | 10:43 pm – 3:03 am | 4h 20m | Down (26%) | WNW 282°, up to 57° |
| Tue 18 Aug | 11:54 pm – 2:54 am | 3h 00m | Down (36%) | W 268°, up to 43° |
| Wed 19 Aug | 1:05 am – 2:55 am | 1h 50m | Down (45%) | WSW 256°, up to 30° |
| Mon 31 Aug | 7:17 pm – 9:07 pm | 1h 50m | Down (88%) | N 1°, up to 76° |
| Tue 1 Sep | 7:18 pm – 10:18 pm | 3h 00m | Down (79%) | N 356°, up to 76° |
| Wed 2 Sep | 7:19 pm – 11:39 pm | 4h 20m | Down (69%) | N 352°, up to 76° |
| Thu 3 Sep | 7:20 pm – 12:50 am | 5h 30m | Down (58%) | NNW 347°, up to 76° |
| Fri 4 Sep | 7:21 pm – 1:51 am | 6h 30m | Down (46%) | NNW 343°, up to 76° |
| Sat 5 Sep | 7:22 pm – 1:52 am | 6h 30m | Down (35%) | NNW 339°, up to 75° |
| Sun 6 Sep | 7:23 pm – 1:43 am | 6h 20m | Down (24%) | NNW 335°, up to 75° |
| Mon 7 Sep | 7:24 pm – 1:44 am | 6h 20m | Down (15%) | NNW 331°, up to 75° |
| Tue 8 Sep | 7:25 pm – 1:35 am | 6h 10m | Down (7%) | NNW 327°, up to 74° |
| Wed 9 Sep | 7:26 pm – 1:36 am | 6h 10m | Down (3%) | NW 324°, up to 74° |
| Thu 10 Sep | 7:27 pm – 1:27 am | 6h 00m | Down (0%) | NW 320°, up to 73° |
| Fri 11 Sep | 7:29 pm – 1:29 am | 6h 00m | Down (0%) | NW 317°, up to 72° |
| Sat 12 Sep | 7:30 pm – 1:20 am | 5h 50m | Down (3%) | NW 314°, up to 72° |
| Sun 13 Sep | 7:31 pm – 1:21 am | 5h 50m | Up, 7% lit | NW 312°, up to 71° |
| Mon 14 Sep | 7:32 pm – 1:12 am | 5h 40m | Up, 14% lit | NW 309°, up to 70° |
| Tue 15 Sep | 7:33 pm – 1:13 am | 5h 40m | Up, 21% lit | NW 307°, up to 70° |
| Wed 16 Sep | 11:54 pm – 1:04 am | 1h 10m | Down (29%) | WSW 251°, up to 23° |
| Tue 29 Sep | 7:50 pm – 9:20 pm | 1h 30m | Down (90%) | WNW 283°, up to 57° |
| Wed 30 Sep | 7:52 pm – 10:32 pm | 2h 40m | Down (83%) | WNW 282°, up to 57° |
| Thu 1 Oct | 7:53 pm – 11:53 pm | 4h 00m | Down (73%) | W 281°, up to 56° |
| Fri 2 Oct | 7:54 pm – 12:04 am | 4h 10m | Down (62%) | W 279°, up to 55° |
| Sat 3 Oct | 7:56 pm – 11:56 pm | 4h 00m | Down (50%) | W 278°, up to 54° |
| Sun 4 Oct | 8:57 pm – 12:57 am | 4h 00m | Down (38%) | W 277°, up to 53° |
| Mon 5 Oct | 8:59 pm – 12:49 am | 3h 50m | Down (27%) | W 276°, up to 52° |
| Tue 6 Oct | 9:00 pm – 12:50 am | 3h 50m | Down (18%) | W 275°, up to 51° |
| Wed 7 Oct | 9:01 pm – 12:41 am | 3h 40m | Down (10%) | W 274°, up to 50° |
| Thu 8 Oct | 9:03 pm – 12:43 am | 3h 40m | Down (4%) | W 273°, up to 49° |
| Fri 9 Oct | 9:04 pm – 12:34 am | 3h 30m | Down (1%) | W 272°, up to 48° |
| Sat 10 Oct | 9:06 pm – 12:26 am | 3h 20m | Down (0%) | W 271°, up to 47° |
| Sun 11 Oct | 9:07 pm – 12:27 am | 3h 20m | Down (1%) | W 270°, up to 46° |
| Mon 12 Oct | 9:09 pm – 12:19 am | 3h 10m | Up, 5% lit | W 269°, up to 45° |
| Tue 13 Oct | 9:10 pm – 12:20 am | 3h 10m | Up, 9% lit | W 268°, up to 44° |
| Wed 14 Oct | 9:12 pm – 12:12 am | 3h 00m | Up, 16% lit | W 268°, up to 43° |
| Thu 15 Oct | 9:14 pm – 12:14 am | 3h 00m | Up, 23% lit | W 267°, up to 42° |
| Wed 28 Oct | 9:36 pm – 10:36 pm | 1h 00m | Down (93%) | WSW 256°, up to 28° |
| Thu 29 Oct | 9:38 pm – 11:18 pm | 1h 40m | Down (86%) | WSW 255°, up to 27° |
| Fri 30 Oct | 9:39 pm – 11:09 pm | 1h 30m | Down (76%) | WSW 254°, up to 26° |
| Sat 31 Oct | 9:41 pm – 11:11 pm | 1h 30m | Down (66%) | WSW 253°, up to 25° |
| Sun 1 Nov | 9:43 pm – 11:03 pm | 1h 20m | Down (54%) | WSW 252°, up to 24° |
| Mon 2 Nov | 9:45 pm – 11:05 pm | 1h 20m | Down (43%) | WSW 251°, up to 23° |
| Tue 3 Nov | 9:47 pm – 10:57 pm | 1h 10m | Down (32%) | WSW 251°, up to 22° |
| Wed 4 Nov | 9:49 pm – 10:49 pm | 1h 00m | Down (22%) | WSW 250°, up to 21° |
| Thu 5 Nov | 9:51 pm – 10:51 pm | 1h 00m | Down (13%) | WSW 249°, up to 20° |
Across Tasmania
The calendar above is worked out for Hobart. The moon sets the season's first and last nights, so they barely move across TAS. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobart | 132 | 31 | 11h 30m | June | 76° |
| Launceston | 132 | 29 | 11h 20m | June | 78° |
| Strahan | 133 | 30 | 11h 30m | June | 77° |
Dark-sky sites in Tasmania
Hobart'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.
- Mount Field National Park, 56 km from Hobart. Alpine tarns and tall forest, about 90 minutes from Hobart.
- Coles Bay, Freycinet, 115 km from Hobart (Bortle 5). Granite peaks over a quiet east-coast bay.
- Bay of Fires, 221 km from Hobart. Orange-lichened boulders on a long, unlit coast.
- Dove Lake, Cradle Mountain, 176 km from Hobart. A mountain lake in the World Heritage highlands.
Questions
When is the best time to see the Milky Way in Tasmania in 2026?
June and July. In June, 18 nights from Hobart have a dark core window of 3 hours or more, and the typical window is 7h 05m. Plan around the new moon: the nights either side of full moon drop out.
How high does the Milky Way core get in Tasmania?
From Hobart it climbs to 76° above the northern horizon. The higher the core, the less haze and light glow it shines through.
When does the Milky Way season start and end in Tasmania?
In 2026 the first night with the core up in a dark sky is 12 February, and the last is 5 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 5:30 pm to 7:10 am Hobart time. The dark part of that is the window shown for each night above.