Milky Way Calendar Tasmania 2028
From Hobart, the core is up after dark from 2 February to 22 October 2028. Best months: June and May. 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 | 2h 50m | 7 | 3 | 26 Feb, 28 Feb, 29 Feb |
| March | 12:30 am – 2:10 pm | 5h 30m | 17 | 2 | 29 Mar, 30 Mar, 31 Mar |
| April | 9:30 pm – 11:10 am | 7h 50m | 17 | 3 | 24 Apr, 28 Apr, 29 Apr |
| May | 7:30 pm – 9:10 am | 6h 35m | 20 | 3 | 24 May, 27 May, 28 May |
| June | 5:30 pm – 7:10 am | 6h 55m | 20 | 3 | 18 Jun, 19 Jun, 20 Jun |
| July | 3:30 pm – 5:10 am | 6h 35m | 17 | 5 | 17 Jul, 18 Jul, 19 Jul |
| August | 1:30 pm – 3:10 am | 7h 30m | 15 | 2 | 15 Aug, 16 Aug, 17 Aug |
| September | 11:30 am – 1:10 am | 5h 15m | 14 | 2 | 11 Sep, 12 Sep, 13 Sep |
| October | 10:30 am – 12:10 am | 2h 50m | 7 | 9 | 9 Oct, 10 Oct, 11 Oct |
| November | Core not up after dark | ||||
| 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 2028
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February 2028
March 2028
April 2028
May 2028
June 2028
July 2028
August 2028
September 2028
October 2028
November 2028
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December 2028
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wed 2 Feb | 3:19 am – 4:19 am | 1h 00m | Down (39%) | ESE 119° → ESE 110°, up to 22° |
| Thu 3 Feb | 3:08 am – 4:18 am | 1h 10m | Down (50%) | ESE 120° → ESE 110°, up to 22° |
| Fri 4 Feb | 3:06 am – 4:16 am | 1h 10m | Down (60%) | ESE 120° → ESE 110°, up to 22° |
| Sat 5 Feb | 3:04 am – 4:24 am | 1h 20m | Down (70%) | ESE 120° → ESE 108°, up to 24° |
| Sun 6 Feb | 3:02 am – 4:22 am | 1h 20m | Down (80%) | ESE 119° → ESE 107°, up to 25° |
| Mon 7 Feb | 3:00 am – 4:20 am | 1h 20m | Down (88%) | ESE 119° → ESE 107°, up to 25° |
| Sun 20 Feb | 2:05 am – 4:45 am | 2h 40m | Up, 20% lit | ESE 120° → E 96°, up to 39° |
| Mon 21 Feb | 2:03 am – 4:53 am | 2h 50m | Up, 12% lit | ESE 119° → E 94°, up to 41° |
| Tue 22 Feb | 2:01 am – 4:51 am | 2h 50m | Up, 7% lit | ESE 119° → E 94°, up to 41° |
| Wed 23 Feb | 1:49 am – 4:59 am | 3h 10m | Down (3%) | ESE 120° → E 92°, up to 43° |
| Thu 24 Feb | 1:47 am – 4:57 am | 3h 10m | Down (1%) | ESE 120° → E 91°, up to 44° |
| Fri 25 Feb | 1:45 am – 4:55 am | 3h 10m | Down (0%) | ESE 120° → E 91°, up to 44° |
| Sat 26 Feb | 1:43 am – 5:03 am | 3h 20m | Down (1%) | ESE 119° → E 89°, up to 46° |
| Sun 27 Feb | 1:41 am – 5:01 am | 3h 20m | Down (4%) | ESE 119° → E 89°, up to 47° |
| Mon 28 Feb | 1:29 am – 4:59 am | 3h 30m | Down (9%) | ESE 120° → E 88°, up to 47° |
| Tue 29 Feb | 1:27 am – 5:07 am | 3h 40m | Down (16%) | ESE 120° → E 86°, up to 49° |
| Wed 1 Mar | 1:25 am – 5:05 am | 3h 40m | Down (24%) | ESE 120° → E 86°, up to 50° |
| Thu 2 Mar | 1:23 am – 5:13 am | 3h 50m | Down (33%) | ESE 119° → E 84°, up to 52° |
| Fri 3 Mar | 1:21 am – 5:11 am | 3h 50m | Down (43%) | ESE 119° → E 83°, up to 52° |
| Sat 4 Mar | 1:09 am – 5:09 am | 4h 00m | Down (54%) | ESE 120° → E 83°, up to 53° |
| Sun 5 Mar | 1:07 am – 5:17 am | 4h 10m | Down (65%) | ESE 120° → E 80°, up to 55° |
| Mon 6 Mar | 1:55 am – 5:15 am | 3h 20m | Down (76%) | ESE 112° → E 80°, up to 55° |
| Tue 7 Mar | 3:13 am – 5:13 am | 2h 00m | Down (85%) | E 100° → E 80°, up to 55° |
| Mon 20 Mar | 12:07 am – 1:57 am | 1h 50m | Down (26%) | ESE 120° → ESE 104°, up to 29° |
| Tue 21 Mar | 12:05 am – 5:35 am | 5h 30m | Up, 18% lit | ESE 120° → NE 56°, up to 69° |
| Wed 22 Mar | 12:04 am – 5:34 am | 5h 30m | Up, 11% lit | ESE 120° → NE 55°, up to 69° |
| Thu 23 Mar | 12:02 am – 5:42 am | 5h 40m | Up, 6% lit | ESE 119° → NE 50°, up to 71° |
| Fri 24 Mar | 11:50 pm – 5:40 am | 5h 50m | Down (2%) | ESE 120° → NE 49°, up to 71° |
| Sat 25 Mar | 11:48 pm – 5:38 am | 5h 50m | Down (0%) | ESE 120° → NE 47°, up to 71° |
| Sun 26 Mar | 11:46 pm – 5:46 am | 6h 00m | Down (0%) | ESE 120° → NE 40°, up to 73° |
| Mon 27 Mar | 11:44 pm – 5:44 am | 6h 00m | Down (2%) | ESE 120° → NE 39°, up to 73° |
| Tue 28 Mar | 11:42 pm – 5:42 am | 6h 00m | Down (6%) | ESE 119° → NE 38°, up to 73° |
| Wed 29 Mar | 11:31 pm – 5:41 am | 6h 10m | Down (11%) | ESE 120° → NE 36°, up to 73° |
| Thu 30 Mar | 11:29 pm – 5:49 am | 6h 20m | Down (19%) | ESE 120° → NNE 28°, up to 75° |
| Fri 31 Mar | 11:27 pm – 5:47 am | 6h 20m | Down (28%) | ESE 120° → NNE 26°, up to 75° |
| Sat 1 Apr | 11:25 pm – 4:45 am | 6h 20m | Down (38%) | ESE 119° → NNE 24°, up to 75° |
| Sun 2 Apr | 10:43 pm – 4:53 am | 6h 10m | Down (50%) | ESE 116° → NNE 14°, up to 76° |
| Mon 3 Apr | 11:52 pm – 4:52 am | 5h 00m | Down (61%) | ESE 106° → NNE 12°, up to 76° |
| Tue 4 Apr | 1:10 am – 4:50 am | 3h 40m | Down (72%) | E 93° → N 10°, up to 76° |
| Wed 5 Apr | 2:28 am – 4:58 am | 2h 30m | Down (82%) | ENE 78° → N 359°, up to 76° |
| Thu 6 Apr | 3:46 am – 4:56 am | 1h 10m | Down (90%) | NE 50° → N 357°, up to 76° |
| Sun 16 Apr | 9:20 pm – 10:50 pm | 1h 30m | Down (51%) | ESE 120° → ESE 107°, up to 25° |
| Mon 17 Apr | 9:19 pm – 11:49 pm | 2h 30m | Down (41%) | ESE 120° → E 98°, up to 37° |
| Tue 18 Apr | 9:17 pm – 12:57 am | 3h 40m | Down (32%) | ESE 120° → E 86°, up to 50° |
| Wed 19 Apr | 9:16 pm – 5:06 am | 7h 50m | Up, 24% lit | ESE 119° → N 357°, up to 76° |
| Thu 20 Apr | 9:04 pm – 5:14 am | 8h 10m | Up, 16% lit | ESE 120° → N 4°, up to 76° |
| Fri 21 Apr | 9:03 pm – 5:13 am | 8h 10m | Up, 10% lit | ESE 120° → N 1°, up to 76° |
| Sat 22 Apr | 9:02 pm – 5:12 am | 8h 10m | Up, 5% lit | ESE 120° → N 359°, up to 76° |
| Sun 23 Apr | 9:00 pm – 5:10 am | 8h 10m | Down (2%) | ESE 119° → N 357°, up to 76° |
| Mon 24 Apr | 8:49 pm – 5:19 am | 8h 30m | Down (0%) | ESE 120° → N 4°, up to 76° |
| Tue 25 Apr | 8:47 pm – 5:17 am | 8h 30m | Down (1%) | ESE 120° → N 1°, up to 76° |
| Wed 26 Apr | 8:46 pm – 5:16 am | 8h 30m | Down (3%) | ESE 120° → N 359°, up to 76° |
| Thu 27 Apr | 8:45 pm – 5:15 am | 8h 30m | Down (8%) | ESE 119° → N 356°, up to 76° |
| Fri 28 Apr | 8:34 pm – 5:14 am | 8h 40m | Down (15%) | ESE 120° → N 3°, up to 76° |
| Sat 29 Apr | 8:32 pm – 5:22 am | 8h 50m | Down (24%) | ESE 120° → N 1°, up to 76° |
| Sun 30 Apr | 9:41 pm – 5:21 am | 7h 40m | Down (34%) | ESE 109° → N 358°, up to 76° |
| Mon 1 May | 10:50 pm – 5:20 am | 6h 30m | Down (46%) | E 98° → N 356°, up to 76° |
| Tue 2 May | 12:09 am – 5:19 am | 5h 10m | Down (57%) | E 85° → N 2°, up to 76° |
| Wed 3 May | 1:28 am – 5:28 am | 4h 00m | Down (69%) | ENE 64° → N 0°, up to 76° |
| Thu 4 May | 2:46 am – 5:26 am | 2h 40m | Down (79%) | NNE 15° → N 357°, up to 76° |
| Fri 5 May | 3:55 am – 5:25 am | 1h 30m | Down (88%) | NW 316°, up to 72° |
| Sat 13 May | 7:37 pm – 8:37 pm | 1h 00m | Down (76%) | ESE 120° → ESE 111°, up to 21° |
| Sun 14 May | 7:37 pm – 9:37 pm | 2h 00m | Down (67%) | ESE 119° → ESE 102°, up to 32° |
| Mon 15 May | 7:26 pm – 10:46 pm | 3h 20m | Down (58%) | ESE 120° → E 90°, up to 45° |
| Tue 16 May | 7:25 pm – 11:45 pm | 4h 20m | Down (48%) | ESE 120° → ENE 78°, up to 57° |
| Wed 17 May | 7:24 pm – 12:44 am | 5h 20m | Down (39%) | ESE 119° → ENE 59°, up to 67° |
| Thu 18 May | 7:13 pm – 1:43 am | 6h 30m | Down (30%) | ESE 120° → NNE 22°, up to 75° |
| Fri 19 May | 7:13 pm – 5:33 am | 10h 20m | Up, 22% lit | ESE 120° → N 2°, up to 76° |
| Sat 20 May | 7:12 pm – 5:42 am | 10h 30m | Up, 15% lit | ESE 120° → N 359°, up to 76° |
| Sun 21 May | 7:01 pm – 5:41 am | 10h 40m | Up, 8% lit | ESE 121° → N 5°, up to 76° |
| Mon 22 May | 7:01 pm – 5:41 am | 10h 40m | Down (4%) | ESE 120° → N 2°, up to 76° |
| Tue 23 May | 7:00 pm – 5:40 am | 10h 40m | Down (1%) | ESE 120° → N 359°, up to 76° |
| Wed 24 May | 6:49 pm – 5:39 am | 10h 50m | Down (0%) | ESE 121° → N 5°, up to 76° |
| Thu 25 May | 6:49 pm – 5:39 am | 10h 50m | Down (2%) | ESE 120° → N 2°, up to 76° |
| Fri 26 May | 6:48 pm – 5:38 am | 10h 50m | Down (6%) | ESE 119° → N 359°, up to 76° |
| Sat 27 May | 6:38 pm – 5:38 am | 11h 00m | Up, 12% lit | ESE 121° → N 5°, up to 76° |
| Sun 28 May | 6:37 pm – 5:47 am | 11h 10m | Up, 21% lit | ESE 120° → N 1°, up to 76° |
| Mon 29 May | 9:47 pm – 5:47 am | 8h 00m | Down (31%) | E 91° → N 358°, up to 76° |
| Tue 30 May | 11:07 pm – 5:47 am | 6h 40m | Down (42%) | ENE 74° → N 4°, up to 76° |
| Wed 31 May | 12:26 am – 5:46 am | 5h 20m | Down (54%) | NE 41° → N 1°, up to 76° |
| Thu 1 Jun | 1:36 am – 5:46 am | 4h 10m | Down (66%) | NNW 340°, up to 75° |
| Fri 2 Jun | 2:56 am – 5:46 am | 2h 50m | Down (76%) | WNW 294°, up to 65° |
| Sat 3 Jun | 4:15 am – 5:45 am | 1h 30m | Down (85%) | W 274°, up to 50° |
| Sat 10 Jun | 6:24 pm – 7:24 pm | 1h 00m | Down (88%) | ESE 114° → ESE 106°, up to 27° |
| Sun 11 Jun | 6:24 pm – 8:34 pm | 2h 10m | Down (81%) | ESE 114° → E 94°, up to 40° |
| Mon 12 Jun | 6:24 pm – 9:34 pm | 3h 10m | Down (73%) | ESE 113° → E 83°, up to 52° |
| Tue 13 Jun | 6:24 pm – 10:34 pm | 4h 10m | Down (64%) | ESE 113° → ENE 68°, up to 64° |
| Wed 14 Jun | 6:24 pm – 11:34 pm | 5h 10m | Down (55%) | ESE 112° → NE 39°, up to 73° |
| Thu 15 Jun | 6:24 pm – 12:34 am | 6h 10m | Down (46%) | ESE 111° → N 4°, up to 76° |
| Fri 16 Jun | 6:24 pm – 1:34 am | 7h 10m | Down (36%) | ESE 111° → N 0°, up to 76° |
| Sat 17 Jun | 6:24 pm – 2:44 am | 8h 20m | Down (27%) | ESE 110° → N 356°, up to 76° |
| Sun 18 Jun | 6:25 pm – 5:55 am | 11h 30m | Up, 19% lit | ESE 110° → N 2°, up to 76° |
| Mon 19 Jun | 6:25 pm – 5:55 am | 11h 30m | Up, 12% lit | ESE 109° → N 358°, up to 76° |
| Tue 20 Jun | 6:25 pm – 5:55 am | 11h 30m | Down (6%) | ESE 108° → N 3°, up to 76° |
| Wed 21 Jun | 6:25 pm – 5:55 am | 11h 30m | Down (2%) | ESE 108° → N 0°, up to 76° |
| Thu 22 Jun | 6:25 pm – 5:55 am | 11h 30m | Down (0%) | ESE 107° → N 356°, up to 76° |
| Fri 23 Jun | 6:26 pm – 5:56 am | 11h 30m | Down (1%) | ESE 107° → N 1°, up to 76° |
| Sat 24 Jun | 6:26 pm – 5:56 am | 11h 30m | Down (4%) | ESE 106° → N 357°, up to 76° |
| Sun 25 Jun | 6:26 pm – 5:56 am | 11h 30m | Up, 10% lit | ESE 105° → N 2°, up to 76° |
| Mon 26 Jun | 6:27 pm – 5:57 am | 11h 30m | Up, 18% lit | ESE 105° → N 359°, up to 76° |
| Tue 27 Jun | 10:07 pm – 5:57 am | 7h 50m | Down (28%) | ENE 58° → N 4°, up to 76° |
| Wed 28 Jun | 11:17 pm – 5:57 am | 6h 40m | Down (39%) | N 9° → N 0°, up to 76° |
| Thu 29 Jun | 12:38 am – 5:58 am | 5h 20m | Down (51%) | NW 307°, up to 70° |
| Fri 30 Jun | 1:58 am – 5:58 am | 4h 00m | Down (63%) | W 280°, up to 55° |
| Sat 1 Jul | 3:09 am – 5:59 am | 2h 50m | Down (73%) | W 267°, up to 42° |
| Sun 2 Jul | 4:19 am – 5:59 am | 1h 40m | Down (83%) | WSW 255°, up to 28° |
| Mon 10 Jul | 6:33 pm – 8:23 pm | 1h 50m | Down (86%) | E 96° → ENE 75°, up to 59° |
| Tue 11 Jul | 6:34 pm – 9:24 pm | 2h 50m | Down (79%) | E 95° → NE 52°, up to 70° |
| Wed 12 Jul | 6:35 pm – 10:25 pm | 3h 50m | Down (70%) | E 94° → N 7°, up to 76° |
| Thu 13 Jul | 6:35 pm – 11:25 pm | 4h 50m | Down (62%) | E 93° → N 3°, up to 76° |
| Fri 14 Jul | 6:36 pm – 12:26 am | 5h 50m | Down (52%) | E 93° → N 359°, up to 76° |
| Sat 15 Jul | 6:36 pm – 1:36 am | 7h 00m | Down (42%) | E 92° → N 4°, up to 76° |
| Sun 16 Jul | 6:37 pm – 2:37 am | 8h 00m | Down (33%) | E 91° → N 359°, up to 76° |
| Mon 17 Jul | 6:38 pm – 4:58 am | 10h 20m | Up, 23% lit | E 90° → N 4°, up to 76° |
| Tue 18 Jul | 6:39 pm – 4:59 am | 10h 20m | Up, 15% lit | E 90° → N 0°, up to 76° |
| Wed 19 Jul | 6:39 pm – 4:59 am | 10h 20m | Down (8%) | E 89° → N 356°, up to 76° |
| Thu 20 Jul | 6:40 pm – 4:50 am | 10h 10m | Down (3%) | E 88° → N 1°, up to 76° |
| Fri 21 Jul | 6:41 pm – 4:51 am | 10h 10m | Down (0%) | E 87° → N 356°, up to 76° |
| Sat 22 Jul | 6:41 pm – 4:41 am | 10h 00m | Down (0%) | E 86° → N 1°, up to 76° |
| Sun 23 Jul | 6:42 pm – 4:42 am | 10h 00m | Down (3%) | E 85° → N 357°, up to 76° |
| Mon 24 Jul | 6:43 pm – 4:33 am | 9h 50m | Up, 8% lit | E 84° → N 2°, up to 76° |
| Tue 25 Jul | 6:44 pm – 4:34 am | 9h 50m | Up, 16% lit | E 84° → N 357°, up to 76° |
| Wed 26 Jul | 10:15 pm – 4:25 am | 6h 10m | Down (25%) | NNW 328°, up to 74° |
| Thu 27 Jul | 11:35 pm – 4:25 am | 4h 50m | Down (36%) | WNW 289°, up to 62° |
| Fri 28 Jul | 12:46 am – 4:16 am | 3h 30m | Down (48%) | W 273°, up to 48° |
| Sat 29 Jul | 2:07 am – 4:17 am | 2h 10m | Down (59%) | W 259°, up to 33° |
| Tue 8 Aug | 6:56 pm – 8:16 pm | 1h 20m | Down (90%) | ENE 67° → NNE 26°, up to 75° |
| Wed 9 Aug | 6:56 pm – 9:16 pm | 2h 20m | Down (84%) | ENE 66° → N 356°, up to 76° |
| Thu 10 Aug | 6:57 pm – 10:17 pm | 3h 20m | Down (76%) | ENE 64° → N 1°, up to 76° |
| Fri 11 Aug | 6:58 pm – 11:18 pm | 4h 20m | Down (68%) | ENE 62° → N 356°, up to 76° |
| Sat 12 Aug | 6:59 pm – 12:19 am | 5h 20m | Down (58%) | ENE 60° → N 1°, up to 76° |
| Sun 13 Aug | 7:00 pm – 1:30 am | 6h 30m | Down (48%) | ENE 58° → N 357°, up to 76° |
| Mon 14 Aug | 7:01 pm – 2:31 am | 7h 30m | Down (38%) | ENE 56° → N 1°, up to 76° |
| Tue 15 Aug | 7:02 pm – 3:12 am | 8h 10m | Down (28%) | NE 54° → N 357°, up to 76° |
| Wed 16 Aug | 7:03 pm – 3:03 am | 8h 00m | Down (19%) | NE 52° → N 2°, up to 76° |
| Thu 17 Aug | 7:04 pm – 3:04 am | 8h 00m | Down (11%) | NE 50° → N 357°, up to 76° |
| Fri 18 Aug | 7:05 pm – 2:55 am | 7h 50m | Down (5%) | NE 47° → N 2°, up to 76° |
| Sat 19 Aug | 7:06 pm – 2:56 am | 7h 50m | Down (1%) | NE 44° → N 357°, up to 76° |
| Sun 20 Aug | 7:07 pm – 2:47 am | 7h 40m | Down (0%) | NE 41° → N 2°, up to 76° |
| Mon 21 Aug | 7:07 pm – 2:47 am | 7h 40m | Down (2%) | NE 38° → N 358°, up to 76° |
| Tue 22 Aug | 7:08 pm – 2:38 am | 7h 30m | Up, 7% lit | NE 35° → N 2°, up to 76° |
| Wed 23 Aug | 7:09 pm – 2:39 am | 7h 30m | Up, 14% lit | NNE 32° → N 358°, up to 76° |
| Thu 24 Aug | 7:10 pm – 2:30 am | 7h 20m | Up, 22% lit | NNE 28° → N 2°, up to 76° |
| Fri 25 Aug | 11:51 pm – 2:31 am | 2h 40m | Down (33%) | W 264°, up to 38° |
| Sat 26 Aug | 1:02 am – 2:22 am | 1h 20m | Down (44%) | WSW 253°, up to 25° |
| Thu 7 Sep | 7:25 pm – 9:05 pm | 1h 40m | Down (88%) | NNW 329°, up to 74° |
| Fri 8 Sep | 7:26 pm – 10:16 pm | 2h 50m | Down (82%) | NW 325°, up to 74° |
| Sat 9 Sep | 7:27 pm – 11:17 pm | 3h 50m | Down (73%) | NW 322°, up to 73° |
| Sun 10 Sep | 7:28 pm – 12:18 am | 4h 50m | Down (64%) | NW 319°, up to 73° |
| Mon 11 Sep | 7:29 pm – 1:19 am | 5h 50m | Down (54%) | NW 316°, up to 72° |
| Tue 12 Sep | 7:30 pm – 1:20 am | 5h 50m | Down (43%) | NW 313°, up to 71° |
| Wed 13 Sep | 7:31 pm – 1:11 am | 5h 40m | Down (32%) | NW 310°, up to 71° |
| Thu 14 Sep | 7:32 pm – 1:12 am | 5h 40m | Down (22%) | NW 308°, up to 70° |
| Fri 15 Sep | 7:34 pm – 1:04 am | 5h 30m | Down (13%) | NW 305°, up to 69° |
| Sat 16 Sep | 7:35 pm – 1:05 am | 5h 30m | Down (6%) | WNW 303°, up to 68° |
| Sun 17 Sep | 7:36 pm – 12:56 am | 5h 20m | Down (2%) | WNW 301°, up to 68° |
| Mon 18 Sep | 7:37 pm – 12:57 am | 5h 20m | Down (0%) | WNW 299°, up to 67° |
| Tue 19 Sep | 7:38 pm – 12:48 am | 5h 10m | Down (1%) | WNW 297°, up to 66° |
| Wed 20 Sep | 7:40 pm – 12:50 am | 5h 10m | Up, 5% lit | WNW 295°, up to 65° |
| Thu 21 Sep | 7:41 pm – 12:41 am | 5h 00m | Up, 11% lit | WNW 294°, up to 64° |
| Fri 22 Sep | 7:42 pm – 12:42 am | 5h 00m | Up, 19% lit | WNW 292°, up to 63° |
| Fri 6 Oct | 9:01 pm – 10:01 pm | 1h 00m | Down (92%) | W 275°, up to 50° |
| Sat 7 Oct | 9:02 pm – 11:12 pm | 2h 10m | Down (86%) | W 274°, up to 49° |
| Sun 8 Oct | 9:04 pm – 12:14 am | 3h 10m | Down (78%) | W 273°, up to 48° |
| Mon 9 Oct | 9:05 pm – 12:35 am | 3h 30m | Down (69%) | W 272°, up to 47° |
| Tue 10 Oct | 9:07 pm – 12:27 am | 3h 20m | Down (59%) | W 271°, up to 46° |
| Wed 11 Oct | 9:08 pm – 12:28 am | 3h 20m | Down (48%) | W 270°, up to 45° |
| Thu 12 Oct | 9:10 pm – 12:20 am | 3h 10m | Down (36%) | W 269°, up to 44° |
| Fri 13 Oct | 9:11 pm – 12:21 am | 3h 10m | Down (26%) | W 268°, up to 43° |
| Sat 14 Oct | 9:13 pm – 12:13 am | 3h 00m | Down (16%) | W 267°, up to 42° |
| Sun 15 Oct | 9:14 pm – 12:04 am | 2h 50m | Down (9%) | W 266°, up to 41° |
| Mon 16 Oct | 9:16 pm – 12:06 am | 2h 50m | Down (3%) | W 265°, up to 40° |
| Tue 17 Oct | 9:18 pm – 11:58 pm | 2h 40m | Down (1%) | W 264°, up to 39° |
| Wed 18 Oct | 9:19 pm – 11:59 pm | 2h 40m | Down (1%) | W 264°, up to 38° |
| Thu 19 Oct | 9:21 pm – 11:51 pm | 2h 30m | Down (3%) | W 263°, up to 37° |
| Fri 20 Oct | 9:23 pm – 11:53 pm | 2h 30m | Up, 8% lit | W 262°, up to 36° |
| Sat 21 Oct | 9:24 pm – 11:44 pm | 2h 20m | Up, 15% lit | W 261°, up to 35° |
| Sun 22 Oct | 9:26 pm – 11:46 pm | 2h 20m | Up, 24% lit | W 260°, up to 34° |
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 | 134 | 32 | 11h 30m | June | 76° |
| Launceston | 135 | 33 | 11h 20m | June | 78° |
| Strahan | 135 | 31 | 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 2028?
June and May. In June, 20 nights from Hobart have a dark core window of 3 hours or more, and the typical window is 6h 55m. 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 2028 the first night with the core up in a dark sky is 2 February, and the last is 22 October. 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.