Milky Way Calendar Tasmania 2027
From Hobart, the core is up after dark from 2 February to 2 November 2027. Best months: May and June. It climbs to 76° above the northern horizon.
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 | 1h 45m | 0 | 11 | 12 Feb, 15 Feb, 16 Feb |
| March | 12:30 am – 2:10 pm | 4h 10m | 15 | 2 | 12 Mar, 15 Mar, 16 Mar |
| April | 9:30 pm – 11:10 am | 6h 40m | 16 | 4 | 10 Apr, 11 Apr, 12 Apr |
| May | 7:30 pm – 9:10 am | 8h 10m | 21 | 2 | 9 May, 10 May, 31 May |
| June | 5:30 pm – 7:10 am | 7h 30m | 20 | 2 | 1 Jun, 2 Jun, 30 Jun |
| July | 3:30 pm – 5:10 am | 7h 50m | 19 | 4 | 1 Jul, 2 Jul, 3 Jul |
| August | 1:30 pm – 3:10 am | 7h 00m | 18 | 2 | 1 Aug, 2 Aug, 3 Aug |
| September | 11:30 am – 1:10 am | 4h 40m | 15 | 2 | 1 Sep, 2 Sep, 3 Sep |
| October | 10:30 am – 12:10 am | 2h 10m | 4 | 13 | 1 Oct, 2 Oct, 3 Oct |
| November | — | 1h 20m | 0 | 0 | 1 Nov, 2 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 2027
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February 2027
March 2027
April 2027
May 2027
June 2027
July 2027
August 2027
September 2027
October 2027
November 2027
December 2027
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue 2 Feb | 3:09 am – 4:19 am | 1h 10m | Up, 14% lit | ESE 121° → ESE 110°, up to 22° |
| Wed 3 Feb | 3:07 am – 4:17 am | 1h 10m | Up, 8% lit | ESE 120° → ESE 110°, up to 22° |
| Thu 4 Feb | 3:05 am – 4:15 am | 1h 10m | Down (4%) | ESE 120° → ESE 109°, up to 22° |
| Fri 5 Feb | 3:04 am – 4:24 am | 1h 20m | Down (1%) | ESE 120° → ESE 108°, up to 24° |
| Sat 6 Feb | 3:02 am – 4:22 am | 1h 20m | Down (0%) | ESE 119° → ESE 107°, up to 25° |
| Sun 7 Feb | 2:50 am – 4:30 am | 1h 40m | Down (1%) | ESE 120° → ESE 106°, up to 27° |
| Mon 8 Feb | 2:48 am – 4:28 am | 1h 40m | Down (4%) | ESE 120° → ESE 105°, up to 27° |
| Tue 9 Feb | 2:46 am – 4:26 am | 1h 40m | Down (8%) | ESE 120° → ESE 105°, up to 28° |
| Wed 10 Feb | 2:44 am – 4:34 am | 1h 50m | Down (15%) | ESE 120° → ESE 103°, up to 30° |
| Thu 11 Feb | 2:42 am – 4:32 am | 1h 50m | Down (23%) | ESE 119° → ESE 103°, up to 30° |
| Fri 12 Feb | 2:30 am – 4:40 am | 2h 10m | Down (33%) | ESE 120° → ESE 101°, up to 32° |
| Sat 13 Feb | 2:28 am – 4:38 am | 2h 10m | Down (44%) | ESE 120° → E 101°, up to 33° |
| Sun 14 Feb | 2:26 am – 4:36 am | 2h 10m | Down (55%) | ESE 120° → E 101°, up to 33° |
| Mon 15 Feb | 2:24 am – 4:44 am | 2h 20m | Down (66%) | ESE 120° → E 99°, up to 35° |
| Tue 16 Feb | 2:23 am – 4:43 am | 2h 20m | Down (77%) | ESE 119° → E 99°, up to 36° |
| Wed 17 Feb | 2:51 am – 4:41 am | 1h 50m | Down (86%) | ESE 114° → E 98°, up to 36° |
| Wed 3 Mar | 1:22 am – 5:12 am | 3h 50m | Up, 20% lit | ESE 119° → E 84°, up to 52° |
| Thu 4 Mar | 1:20 am – 5:10 am | 3h 50m | Up, 13% lit | ESE 119° → E 83°, up to 52° |
| Fri 5 Mar | 1:08 am – 5:08 am | 4h 00m | Up, 8% lit | ESE 120° → E 83°, up to 53° |
| Sat 6 Mar | 1:06 am – 5:16 am | 4h 10m | Down (3%) | ESE 120° → E 80°, up to 55° |
| Sun 7 Mar | 1:04 am – 5:14 am | 4h 10m | Down (1%) | ESE 120° → E 80°, up to 55° |
| Mon 8 Mar | 1:02 am – 5:12 am | 4h 10m | Down (0%) | ESE 119° → E 80°, up to 55° |
| Tue 9 Mar | 1:00 am – 5:20 am | 4h 20m | Down (2%) | ESE 119° → ENE 77°, up to 58° |
| Wed 10 Mar | 12:48 am – 5:18 am | 4h 30m | Down (5%) | ESE 120° → ENE 76°, up to 58° |
| Thu 11 Mar | 12:46 am – 5:16 am | 4h 30m | Down (11%) | ESE 120° → ENE 76°, up to 58° |
| Fri 12 Mar | 12:44 am – 5:24 am | 4h 40m | Down (19%) | ESE 120° → ENE 73°, up to 60° |
| Sat 13 Mar | 12:42 am – 5:22 am | 4h 40m | Down (28%) | ESE 119° → ENE 72°, up to 61° |
| Sun 14 Mar | 12:41 am – 5:21 am | 4h 40m | Down (39%) | ESE 119° → ENE 72°, up to 61° |
| Mon 15 Mar | 12:29 am – 5:29 am | 5h 00m | Down (50%) | ESE 120° → ENE 68°, up to 63° |
| Tue 16 Mar | 12:27 am – 5:27 am | 5h 00m | Down (62%) | ESE 120° → ENE 68°, up to 63° |
| Wed 17 Mar | 1:45 am – 5:25 am | 3h 40m | Down (73%) | ESE 108° → ENE 67°, up to 64° |
| Thu 18 Mar | 3:03 am – 5:33 am | 2h 30m | Down (83%) | E 96° → ENE 63°, up to 66° |
| Fri 19 Mar | 4:21 am – 5:31 am | 1h 10m | Down (91%) | E 81° → ENE 62°, up to 66° |
| Wed 31 Mar | 11:28 pm – 12:58 am | 1h 30m | Down (35%) | ESE 120° → ESE 107°, up to 26° |
| Thu 1 Apr | 11:27 pm – 2:07 am | 2h 40m | Down (27%) | ESE 120° → E 96°, up to 39° |
| Fri 2 Apr | 11:25 pm – 5:45 am | 6h 20m | Up, 19% lit | ESE 119° → NNE 24°, up to 75° |
| Sat 3 Apr | 11:13 pm – 4:53 am | 6h 40m | Up, 12% lit | ESE 121° → NNE 14°, up to 76° |
| Sun 4 Apr | 10:11 pm – 4:51 am | 6h 40m | Up, 6% lit | ESE 120° → NNE 12°, up to 76° |
| Mon 5 Apr | 10:10 pm – 4:50 am | 6h 40m | Down (2%) | ESE 120° → N 10°, up to 76° |
| Tue 6 Apr | 10:08 pm – 4:58 am | 6h 50m | Down (0%) | ESE 120° → N 359°, up to 76° |
| Wed 7 Apr | 10:06 pm – 4:56 am | 6h 50m | Down (1%) | ESE 119° → N 357°, up to 76° |
| Thu 8 Apr | 9:54 pm – 4:54 am | 7h 00m | Down (3%) | ESE 120° → N 4°, up to 76° |
| Fri 9 Apr | 9:53 pm – 4:53 am | 7h 00m | Down (8%) | ESE 120° → N 2°, up to 76° |
| Sat 10 Apr | 9:51 pm – 5:01 am | 7h 10m | Down (15%) | ESE 120° → N 0°, up to 76° |
| Sun 11 Apr | 9:49 pm – 4:59 am | 7h 10m | Down (24%) | ESE 119° → N 358°, up to 76° |
| Mon 12 Apr | 9:38 pm – 4:58 am | 7h 20m | Down (35%) | ESE 121° → N 5°, up to 76° |
| Tue 13 Apr | 10:26 pm – 5:06 am | 6h 40m | Down (46%) | ESE 113° → N 3°, up to 76° |
| Wed 14 Apr | 11:45 pm – 5:05 am | 5h 20m | Down (58%) | E 101° → N 0°, up to 76° |
| Thu 15 Apr | 1:03 am – 5:03 am | 4h 00m | Down (70%) | E 87° → N 358°, up to 76° |
| Fri 16 Apr | 2:21 am – 5:01 am | 2h 40m | Down (80%) | ENE 69° → N 356°, up to 76° |
| Sat 17 Apr | 3:40 am – 5:10 am | 1h 30m | Down (88%) | NNE 29° → N 3°, up to 76° |
| Tue 27 Apr | 8:46 pm – 9:46 pm | 1h 00m | Down (61%) | ESE 119° → ESE 111°, up to 21° |
| Wed 28 Apr | 8:45 pm – 10:55 pm | 2h 10m | Down (52%) | ESE 119° → E 100°, up to 34° |
| Thu 29 Apr | 8:33 pm – 11:53 pm | 3h 20m | Down (43%) | ESE 120° → E 90°, up to 45° |
| Fri 30 Apr | 8:32 pm – 1:02 am | 4h 30m | Down (33%) | ESE 120° → ENE 75°, up to 59° |
| Sat 1 May | 8:31 pm – 5:21 am | 8h 50m | Up, 24% lit | ESE 119° → N 358°, up to 76° |
| Sun 2 May | 8:20 pm – 5:20 am | 9h 00m | Up, 16% lit | ESE 120° → N 4°, up to 76° |
| Mon 3 May | 8:18 pm – 5:18 am | 9h 00m | Up, 10% lit | ESE 120° → N 2°, up to 76° |
| Tue 4 May | 8:17 pm – 5:27 am | 9h 10m | Down (4%) | ESE 120° → N 359°, up to 76° |
| Wed 5 May | 8:16 pm – 5:26 am | 9h 10m | Down (1%) | ESE 119° → N 357°, up to 76° |
| Thu 6 May | 8:05 pm – 5:25 am | 9h 20m | Down (0%) | ESE 120° → N 3°, up to 76° |
| Fri 7 May | 8:04 pm – 5:24 am | 9h 20m | Down (2%) | ESE 120° → N 1°, up to 76° |
| Sat 8 May | 8:03 pm – 5:23 am | 9h 20m | Down (6%) | ESE 119° → N 358°, up to 76° |
| Sun 9 May | 7:52 pm – 5:32 am | 9h 40m | Down (12%) | ESE 120° → N 4°, up to 76° |
| Mon 10 May | 7:51 pm – 5:31 am | 9h 40m | Up, 21% lit | ESE 120° → N 2°, up to 76° |
| Tue 11 May | 9:20 pm – 5:30 am | 8h 10m | Down (31%) | ESE 106° → N 359°, up to 76° |
| Wed 12 May | 10:39 pm – 5:29 am | 6h 50m | Down (43%) | E 94° → N 356°, up to 76° |
| Thu 13 May | 11:58 pm – 5:28 am | 5h 30m | Down (55%) | ENE 78° → N 3°, up to 76° |
| Fri 14 May | 1:17 am – 5:27 am | 4h 10m | Down (66%) | NE 51° → N 0°, up to 76° |
| Sat 15 May | 2:36 am – 5:36 am | 3h 00m | Down (76%) | NNW 348°, up to 76° |
| Sun 16 May | 3:46 am – 5:36 am | 1h 50m | Down (85%) | WNW 302°, up to 68° |
| Tue 25 May | 6:49 pm – 8:39 pm | 1h 50m | Down (76%) | ESE 120° → ESE 104°, up to 29° |
| Wed 26 May | 6:49 pm – 9:49 pm | 3h 00m | Down (68%) | ESE 120° → E 93°, up to 42° |
| Thu 27 May | 6:48 pm – 10:48 pm | 4h 00m | Down (59%) | ESE 119° → E 82°, up to 54° |
| Fri 28 May | 6:38 pm – 11:48 pm | 5h 10m | Down (49%) | ESE 120° → ENE 65°, up to 65° |
| Sat 29 May | 6:37 pm – 12:57 am | 6h 20m | Down (39%) | ESE 120° → NNE 27°, up to 75° |
| Sun 30 May | 6:37 pm – 1:57 am | 7h 20m | Down (30%) | ESE 119° → N 357°, up to 76° |
| Mon 31 May | 6:27 pm – 5:47 am | 11h 20m | Up, 21% lit | ESE 120° → N 3°, up to 76° |
| Tue 1 Jun | 6:26 pm – 5:46 am | 11h 20m | Up, 13% lit | ESE 120° → N 0°, up to 76° |
| Wed 2 Jun | 6:26 pm – 5:46 am | 11h 20m | Up, 7% lit | ESE 119° → N 357°, up to 76° |
| Thu 3 Jun | 6:26 pm – 5:46 am | 11h 20m | Down (2%) | ESE 119° → N 3°, up to 76° |
| Fri 4 Jun | 6:25 pm – 5:45 am | 11h 20m | Down (0%) | ESE 118° → N 359°, up to 76° |
| Sat 5 Jun | 6:25 pm – 5:45 am | 11h 20m | Down (1%) | ESE 118° → N 356°, up to 76° |
| Sun 6 Jun | 6:25 pm – 5:45 am | 11h 20m | Down (4%) | ESE 117° → N 2°, up to 76° |
| Mon 7 Jun | 6:25 pm – 5:45 am | 11h 20m | Up, 10% lit | ESE 116° → N 358°, up to 76° |
| Tue 8 Jun | 6:25 pm – 5:45 am | 11h 20m | Up, 18% lit | ESE 116° → N 4°, up to 76° |
| Wed 9 Jun | 9:44 pm – 5:54 am | 8h 10m | Down (28%) | E 84° → N 0°, up to 76° |
| Thu 10 Jun | 11:04 pm – 5:54 am | 6h 50m | Down (40%) | ENE 62° → N 357°, up to 76° |
| Fri 11 Jun | 12:14 am – 5:54 am | 5h 40m | Down (51%) | NNE 20° → N 3°, up to 76° |
| Sat 12 Jun | 1:24 am – 5:54 am | 4h 30m | Down (62%) | NW 319°, up to 73° |
| Sun 13 Jun | 2:44 am – 5:54 am | 3h 10m | Down (73%) | WNW 286°, up to 60° |
| Mon 14 Jun | 3:54 am – 5:54 am | 2h 00m | Down (82%) | W 271°, up to 46° |
| Tue 22 Jun | 6:25 pm – 7:35 pm | 1h 10m | Down (88%) | ESE 108° → E 97°, up to 37° |
| Wed 23 Jun | 6:25 pm – 8:35 pm | 2h 10m | Down (82%) | ESE 107° → E 87°, up to 49° |
| Thu 24 Jun | 6:26 pm – 9:36 pm | 3h 10m | Down (74%) | ESE 106° → ENE 73°, up to 60° |
| Fri 25 Jun | 6:26 pm – 10:46 pm | 4h 20m | Down (65%) | ESE 106° → NE 44°, up to 72° |
| Sat 26 Jun | 6:26 pm – 11:46 pm | 5h 20m | Down (55%) | ESE 105° → N 2°, up to 76° |
| Sun 27 Jun | 6:27 pm – 12:57 am | 6h 30m | Down (45%) | ESE 105° → N 358°, up to 76° |
| Mon 28 Jun | 6:27 pm – 1:57 am | 7h 30m | Down (35%) | ESE 104° → N 3°, up to 76° |
| Tue 29 Jun | 6:27 pm – 3:17 am | 8h 50m | Down (25%) | ESE 103° → N 359°, up to 76° |
| Wed 30 Jun | 6:28 pm – 5:58 am | 11h 30m | Up, 16% lit | ESE 103° → N 4°, up to 76° |
| Thu 1 Jul | 6:28 pm – 5:58 am | 11h 30m | Up, 9% lit | ESE 102° → N 0°, up to 76° |
| Fri 2 Jul | 6:29 pm – 5:59 am | 11h 30m | Down (3%) | ESE 101° → N 356°, up to 76° |
| Sat 3 Jul | 6:29 pm – 5:59 am | 11h 30m | Down (0%) | E 101° → N 1°, up to 76° |
| Sun 4 Jul | 6:30 pm – 5:50 am | 11h 20m | Down (0%) | E 100° → N 357°, up to 76° |
| Mon 5 Jul | 6:30 pm – 5:50 am | 11h 20m | Down (3%) | E 99° → N 2°, up to 76° |
| Tue 6 Jul | 6:31 pm – 5:51 am | 11h 20m | Up, 8% lit | E 99° → N 358°, up to 76° |
| Wed 7 Jul | 6:31 pm – 5:41 am | 11h 10m | Up, 16% lit | E 98° → N 3°, up to 76° |
| Thu 8 Jul | 9:52 pm – 5:42 am | 7h 50m | Down (26%) | NE 46° → N 359°, up to 76° |
| Fri 9 Jul | 11:12 pm – 5:42 am | 6h 30m | Down (36%) | NNW 338°, up to 75° |
| Sat 10 Jul | 12:23 am – 5:33 am | 5h 10m | Down (47%) | WNW 296°, up to 66° |
| Sun 11 Jul | 1:33 am – 5:33 am | 4h 00m | Down (58%) | W 277°, up to 52° |
| Mon 12 Jul | 2:44 am – 5:24 am | 2h 40m | Down (69%) | W 264°, up to 39° |
| Tue 13 Jul | 3:55 am – 5:25 am | 1h 30m | Down (78%) | WSW 253°, up to 25° |
| Thu 22 Jul | 6:41 pm – 8:31 pm | 1h 50m | Down (86%) | E 87° → ENE 58°, up to 68° |
| Fri 23 Jul | 6:42 pm – 9:32 pm | 2h 50m | Down (79%) | E 86° → NNE 18°, up to 76° |
| Sat 24 Jul | 6:42 pm – 10:42 pm | 4h 00m | Down (70%) | E 85° → N 356°, up to 76° |
| Sun 25 Jul | 6:43 pm – 11:43 pm | 5h 00m | Down (60%) | E 84° → N 1°, up to 76° |
| Mon 26 Jul | 6:44 pm – 12:54 am | 6h 10m | Down (50%) | E 83° → N 356°, up to 76° |
| Tue 27 Jul | 6:45 pm – 2:05 am | 7h 20m | Down (39%) | E 82° → N 1°, up to 76° |
| Wed 28 Jul | 6:46 pm – 3:26 am | 8h 40m | Down (29%) | E 81° → N 357°, up to 76° |
| Thu 29 Jul | 6:46 pm – 4:16 am | 9h 30m | Down (19%) | E 80° → N 2°, up to 76° |
| Fri 30 Jul | 6:47 pm – 4:17 am | 9h 30m | Down (11%) | E 79° → N 357°, up to 76° |
| Sat 31 Jul | 6:48 pm – 4:08 am | 9h 20m | Down (5%) | ENE 78° → N 2°, up to 76° |
| Sun 1 Aug | 6:49 pm – 4:09 am | 9h 20m | Down (1%) | ENE 77° → N 358°, up to 76° |
| Mon 2 Aug | 6:50 pm – 4:00 am | 9h 10m | Down (0%) | ENE 76° → N 3°, up to 76° |
| Tue 3 Aug | 6:51 pm – 4:01 am | 9h 10m | Down (2%) | ENE 75° → N 358°, up to 76° |
| Wed 4 Aug | 6:51 pm – 3:51 am | 9h 00m | Up, 7% lit | ENE 74° → N 3°, up to 76° |
| Thu 5 Aug | 6:52 pm – 3:52 am | 9h 00m | Up, 14% lit | ENE 72° → N 359°, up to 76° |
| Fri 6 Aug | 6:53 pm – 3:43 am | 8h 50m | Up, 22% lit | ENE 71° → N 3°, up to 76° |
| Sat 7 Aug | 11:24 pm – 3:44 am | 4h 20m | Down (32%) | WNW 282°, up to 57° |
| Sun 8 Aug | 12:35 am – 3:35 am | 3h 00m | Down (43%) | W 268°, up to 43° |
| Mon 9 Aug | 1:46 am – 3:36 am | 1h 50m | Down (54%) | WSW 256°, up to 29° |
| Fri 20 Aug | 7:06 pm – 8:26 pm | 1h 20m | Down (90%) | NE 44° → N 356°, up to 76° |
| Sat 21 Aug | 7:07 pm – 9:37 pm | 2h 30m | Down (83%) | NE 41° → N 1°, up to 76° |
| Sun 22 Aug | 7:08 pm – 10:38 pm | 3h 30m | Down (75%) | NE 38° → N 356°, up to 76° |
| Mon 23 Aug | 7:09 pm – 11:49 pm | 4h 40m | Down (65%) | NE 34° → N 1°, up to 76° |
| Tue 24 Aug | 7:10 pm – 1:00 am | 5h 50m | Down (54%) | NNE 31° → N 357°, up to 76° |
| Wed 25 Aug | 7:11 pm – 2:11 am | 7h 00m | Down (43%) | NNE 27° → N 1°, up to 76° |
| Thu 26 Aug | 7:12 pm – 2:32 am | 7h 20m | Down (32%) | NNE 23° → N 357°, up to 76° |
| Fri 27 Aug | 7:13 pm – 2:23 am | 7h 10m | Down (22%) | NNE 19° → N 1°, up to 76° |
| Sat 28 Aug | 7:14 pm – 2:24 am | 7h 10m | Down (13%) | NNE 15° → N 357°, up to 76° |
| Sun 29 Aug | 7:15 pm – 2:15 am | 7h 00m | Down (6%) | N 11° → N 2°, up to 76° |
| Mon 30 Aug | 7:16 pm – 2:16 am | 7h 00m | Down (2%) | N 6° → N 357°, up to 76° |
| Tue 31 Aug | 7:17 pm – 2:07 am | 6h 50m | Down (0%) | N 2°, up to 76° |
| Wed 1 Sep | 7:18 pm – 2:08 am | 6h 50m | Down (1%) | N 357°, up to 76° |
| Thu 2 Sep | 7:19 pm – 1:59 am | 6h 40m | Up, 5% lit | N 353°, up to 76° |
| Fri 3 Sep | 7:20 pm – 2:00 am | 6h 40m | Up, 11% lit | NNW 348°, up to 76° |
| Sat 4 Sep | 7:21 pm – 1:51 am | 6h 30m | Up, 19% lit | NNW 344°, up to 76° |
| Sun 5 Sep | 11:32 pm – 1:52 am | 2h 20m | Down (28%) | W 260°, up to 34° |
| Mon 6 Sep | 12:33 am – 1:43 am | 1h 10m | Down (38%) | WSW 251°, up to 23° |
| Sun 19 Sep | 7:37 pm – 9:37 pm | 2h 00m | Down (87%) | WNW 299°, up to 67° |
| Mon 20 Sep | 7:39 pm – 10:49 pm | 3h 10m | Down (79%) | WNW 297°, up to 66° |
| Tue 21 Sep | 7:40 pm – 12:00 am | 4h 20m | Down (70%) | WNW 295°, up to 65° |
| Wed 22 Sep | 7:41 pm – 12:41 am | 5h 00m | Down (59%) | WNW 293°, up to 64° |
| Thu 23 Sep | 7:42 pm – 12:42 am | 5h 00m | Down (47%) | WNW 292°, up to 63° |
| Fri 24 Sep | 7:44 pm – 12:34 am | 4h 50m | Down (36%) | WNW 290°, up to 62° |
| Sat 25 Sep | 7:45 pm – 12:35 am | 4h 50m | Down (25%) | WNW 289°, up to 61° |
| Sun 26 Sep | 7:46 pm – 12:26 am | 4h 40m | Down (15%) | WNW 287°, up to 60° |
| Mon 27 Sep | 7:47 pm – 12:27 am | 4h 40m | Down (8%) | WNW 286°, up to 60° |
| Tue 28 Sep | 7:49 pm – 12:19 am | 4h 30m | Down (3%) | WNW 285°, up to 59° |
| Wed 29 Sep | 7:50 pm – 12:10 am | 4h 20m | Down (0%) | WNW 283°, up to 58° |
| Thu 30 Sep | 7:51 pm – 12:11 am | 4h 20m | Down (1%) | WNW 282°, up to 57° |
| Fri 1 Oct | 7:53 pm – 12:03 am | 4h 10m | Up, 3% lit | W 281°, up to 56° |
| Sat 2 Oct | 7:54 pm – 12:04 am | 4h 10m | Up, 8% lit | W 280°, up to 55° |
| Sun 3 Oct | 8:55 pm – 12:55 am | 4h 00m | Up, 15% lit | W 279°, up to 54° |
| Mon 4 Oct | 8:57 pm – 12:57 am | 4h 00m | Up, 23% lit | W 278°, up to 53° |
| Mon 18 Oct | 9:18 pm – 10:38 pm | 1h 20m | Down (90%) | W 264°, up to 39° |
| Tue 19 Oct | 9:20 pm – 11:50 pm | 2h 30m | Down (83%) | W 263°, up to 38° |
| Wed 20 Oct | 9:21 pm – 11:51 pm | 2h 30m | Down (74%) | W 263°, up to 37° |
| Thu 21 Oct | 9:23 pm – 11:53 pm | 2h 30m | Down (63%) | W 262°, up to 36° |
| Fri 22 Oct | 9:25 pm – 11:45 pm | 2h 20m | Down (51%) | W 261°, up to 35° |
| Sat 23 Oct | 9:26 pm – 11:36 pm | 2h 10m | Down (40%) | W 260°, up to 34° |
| Sun 24 Oct | 9:28 pm – 11:38 pm | 2h 10m | Down (28%) | W 259°, up to 33° |
| Mon 25 Oct | 9:30 pm – 11:30 pm | 2h 00m | Down (18%) | WSW 258°, up to 32° |
| Tue 26 Oct | 9:32 pm – 11:32 pm | 2h 00m | Down (10%) | WSW 257°, up to 31° |
| Wed 27 Oct | 9:34 pm – 11:24 pm | 1h 50m | Down (4%) | WSW 257°, up to 30° |
| Thu 28 Oct | 9:35 pm – 11:25 pm | 1h 50m | Down (1%) | WSW 256°, up to 29° |
| Fri 29 Oct | 9:37 pm – 11:17 pm | 1h 40m | Down (0%) | WSW 255°, up to 28° |
| Sat 30 Oct | 9:39 pm – 11:09 pm | 1h 30m | Down (2%) | WSW 254°, up to 27° |
| Sun 31 Oct | 9:41 pm – 11:11 pm | 1h 30m | Up, 5% lit | WSW 253°, up to 26° |
| Mon 1 Nov | 9:43 pm – 11:03 pm | 1h 20m | Up, 11% lit | WSW 252°, up to 25° |
| Tue 2 Nov | 9:45 pm – 11:05 pm | 1h 20m | Up, 18% lit | WSW 252°, up to 24° |
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 | 128 | 42 | 11h 30m | May | 76° |
| Launceston | 128 | 42 | 11h 20m | May | 78° |
| Strahan | 127 | 44 | 11h 20m | 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 2027?
May and June. In May, 21 nights from Hobart have a dark core window of 3 hours or more, and the typical window is 8h 10m. 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 2027 the first night with the core up in a dark sky is 2 February, and the last is 2 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 May?
On May 15 it is more than 10° up from 7:30 pm to 9:10 am Hobart time. The dark part of that is the window shown for each night above.