Milky Way Calendar Western Australia 2026
From Perth, the core is up after dark from 29 January to 7 November 2026. Best months: June and July. It climbs to 87° above the northern horizon.
In Broome the core peaks at 79°, 8° lower than in Perth, with 122 great nights to Perth's 128 across WA.
Next good night from Perth: Thursday 5 November, 8:14 pm – 9:24 pm (1h 10m).
Times are Perth local time (AWST). 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 Perth
| Month | Core up (15th) | Typical dark window | Great nights | Good nights | Best dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | — | 1h 00m | 0 | 0 | 29 Jan |
| February | 2:00 am – 2:40 pm | 2h 40m | 5 | 11 | 23 Feb, 24 Feb, 25 Feb |
| March | 12:10 am – 12:50 pm | 4h 55m | 14 | 1 | 22 Mar, 23 Mar, 24 Mar |
| April | 10:10 pm – 10:50 am | 7h 00m | 14 | 4 | 20 Apr, 21 Apr, 22 Apr |
| May | 8:10 pm – 8:50 am | 6h 20m | 17 | 2 | 16 May, 19 May, 20 May |
| June | 6:10 pm – 6:50 am | 6h 45m | 18 | 4 | 11 Jun, 12 Jun, 13 Jun |
| July | 4:10 pm – 4:50 am | 6h 40m | 17 | 4 | 10 Jul, 11 Jul, 12 Jul |
| August | 2:10 pm – 2:50 am | 7h 00m | 15 | 4 | 8 Aug, 9 Aug, 10 Aug |
| September | 12:00 pm – 12:40 am | 5h 25m | 14 | 2 | 4 Sep, 5 Sep, 6 Sep |
| October | 10:10 am – 10:50 pm | 3h 20m | 14 | 4 | 2 Oct, 3 Oct, 4 Oct |
| November | 8:10 am – 8:40 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 Perth
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 | 3:02 am – 4:02 am | 1h 00m | Down (88%) | ESE 118° → ESE 111°, up to 22° |
| Thu 12 Feb | 2:07 am – 4:17 am | 2h 10m | Up, 22% lit | ESE 118° → ESE 105°, up to 36° |
| Fri 13 Feb | 2:06 am – 4:16 am | 2h 10m | Up, 15% lit | ESE 117° → ESE 104°, up to 37° |
| Sat 14 Feb | 2:05 am – 4:25 am | 2h 20m | Up, 8% lit | ESE 117° → ESE 103°, up to 39° |
| Sun 15 Feb | 1:54 am – 4:24 am | 2h 30m | Up, 4% lit | ESE 118° → ESE 103°, up to 40° |
| Mon 16 Feb | 1:53 am – 4:23 am | 2h 30m | Down (1%) | ESE 118° → ESE 103°, up to 41° |
| Tue 17 Feb | 1:51 am – 4:21 am | 2h 30m | Down (0%) | ESE 117° → ESE 102°, up to 41° |
| Wed 18 Feb | 1:50 am – 4:30 am | 2h 40m | Down (1%) | ESE 117° → E 101°, up to 44° |
| Thu 19 Feb | 1:39 am – 4:29 am | 2h 50m | Down (5%) | ESE 118° → E 101°, up to 44° |
| Fri 20 Feb | 1:37 am – 4:27 am | 2h 50m | Down (11%) | ESE 118° → E 101°, up to 45° |
| Sat 21 Feb | 1:36 am – 4:26 am | 2h 50m | Down (20%) | ESE 117° → E 100°, up to 45° |
| Sun 22 Feb | 1:35 am – 4:35 am | 3h 00m | Down (30%) | ESE 117° → E 99°, up to 48° |
| Mon 23 Feb | 1:24 am – 4:34 am | 3h 10m | Down (41%) | ESE 118° → E 99°, up to 49° |
| Tue 24 Feb | 1:22 am – 4:32 am | 3h 10m | Down (53%) | ESE 118° → E 99°, up to 49° |
| Wed 25 Feb | 1:21 am – 4:31 am | 3h 10m | Down (64%) | ESE 117° → E 99°, up to 50° |
| Thu 26 Feb | 1:20 am – 4:30 am | 3h 10m | Down (75%) | ESE 117° → E 98°, up to 50° |
| Fri 27 Feb | 2:28 am – 4:38 am | 2h 10m | Down (84%) | ESE 109° → E 97°, up to 53° |
| Sat 28 Feb | 3:37 am – 4:37 am | 1h 00m | Down (92%) | ESE 102° → E 97°, up to 53° |
| Sat 14 Mar | 12:08 am – 4:48 am | 4h 40m | Up, 20% lit | ESE 118° → E 89°, up to 67° |
| Sun 15 Mar | 12:06 am – 4:46 am | 4h 40m | Up, 13% lit | ESE 118° → E 89°, up to 68° |
| Mon 16 Mar | 12:05 am – 4:55 am | 4h 50m | Up, 7% lit | ESE 117° → E 87°, up to 71° |
| Tue 17 Mar | 12:04 am – 4:54 am | 4h 50m | Down (2%) | ESE 117° → E 87°, up to 71° |
| Wed 18 Mar | 11:52 pm – 4:52 am | 5h 00m | Down (0%) | ESE 118° → E 86°, up to 72° |
| Thu 19 Mar | 11:51 pm – 4:51 am | 5h 00m | Down (0%) | ESE 118° → E 86°, up to 72° |
| Fri 20 Mar | 11:49 pm – 4:49 am | 5h 00m | Down (3%) | ESE 117° → E 85°, up to 73° |
| Sat 21 Mar | 11:48 pm – 4:58 am | 5h 10m | Down (9%) | ESE 117° → E 83°, up to 76° |
| Sun 22 Mar | 11:37 pm – 4:57 am | 5h 20m | Down (16%) | ESE 118° → E 82°, up to 76° |
| Mon 23 Mar | 11:35 pm – 4:55 am | 5h 20m | Down (26%) | ESE 118° → E 81°, up to 77° |
| Tue 24 Mar | 11:34 pm – 4:54 am | 5h 20m | Down (37%) | ESE 117° → E 81°, up to 77° |
| Wed 25 Mar | 11:33 pm – 4:53 am | 5h 20m | Down (49%) | ESE 117° → E 80°, up to 78° |
| Thu 26 Mar | 12:11 am – 5:01 am | 4h 50m | Down (60%) | ESE 112° → ENE 75°, up to 80° |
| Fri 27 Mar | 1:20 am – 5:00 am | 3h 40m | Down (71%) | ESE 105° → ENE 74°, up to 81° |
| Sat 28 Mar | 2:29 am – 4:59 am | 2h 30m | Down (81%) | E 99° → ENE 73°, up to 81° |
| Sun 29 Mar | 3:38 am – 4:58 am | 1h 20m | Down (89%) | E 91° → ENE 71°, up to 82° |
| Fri 10 Apr | 10:23 pm – 11:53 pm | 1h 30m | Down (45%) | ESE 118° → ESE 108°, up to 28° |
| Sat 11 Apr | 10:21 pm – 12:51 am | 2h 30m | Down (35%) | ESE 118° → ESE 102°, up to 41° |
| Sun 12 Apr | 10:20 pm – 1:50 am | 3h 30m | Down (26%) | ESE 117° → E 97°, up to 54° |
| Mon 13 Apr | 10:09 pm – 5:09 am | 7h 00m | Up, 17% lit | ESE 118° → NNE 18°, up to 87° |
| Tue 14 Apr | 10:08 pm – 5:08 am | 7h 00m | Up, 10% lit | ESE 118° → N 6°, up to 87° |
| Wed 15 Apr | 10:07 pm – 5:07 am | 7h 00m | Up, 4% lit | ESE 117° → N 354°, up to 87° |
| Thu 16 Apr | 10:06 pm – 5:16 am | 7h 10m | Down (1%) | ESE 117° → NNW 343°, up to 87° |
| Fri 17 Apr | 9:55 pm – 5:15 am | 7h 20m | Down (0%) | ESE 118° → NNE 12°, up to 87° |
| Sat 18 Apr | 9:54 pm – 5:14 am | 7h 20m | Down (2%) | ESE 118° → N 0°, up to 87° |
| Sun 19 Apr | 9:53 pm – 5:13 am | 7h 20m | Down (7%) | ESE 117° → NNW 348°, up to 87° |
| Mon 20 Apr | 9:42 pm – 5:12 am | 7h 30m | Down (14%) | ESE 118° → NNE 18°, up to 87° |
| Tue 21 Apr | 9:41 pm – 5:11 am | 7h 30m | Down (23%) | ESE 118° → N 6°, up to 87° |
| Wed 22 Apr | 9:50 pm – 5:20 am | 7h 30m | Down (33%) | ESE 116° → N 353°, up to 87° |
| Thu 23 Apr | 10:59 pm – 5:19 am | 6h 20m | Down (44%) | ESE 109° → NNW 341°, up to 87° |
| Fri 24 Apr | 12:08 am – 5:18 am | 5h 10m | Down (56%) | ESE 102° → N 11°, up to 87° |
| Sat 25 Apr | 1:17 am – 5:17 am | 4h 00m | Down (67%) | E 95° → N 358°, up to 87° |
| Sun 26 Apr | 2:26 am – 5:16 am | 2h 50m | Down (77%) | E 85° → NNW 346°, up to 87° |
| Mon 27 Apr | 3:25 am – 5:15 am | 1h 50m | Down (85%) | NE 46° → NNE 15°, up to 87° |
| Thu 7 May | 8:37 pm – 9:37 pm | 1h 00m | Down (70%) | ESE 118° → ESE 111°, up to 22° |
| Fri 8 May | 8:36 pm – 10:36 pm | 2h 00m | Down (61%) | ESE 117° → ESE 105°, up to 35° |
| Sat 9 May | 8:36 pm – 11:36 pm | 3h 00m | Down (51%) | ESE 117° → E 99°, up to 48° |
| Sun 10 May | 8:25 pm – 12:45 am | 4h 20m | Down (41%) | ESE 118° → E 92°, up to 63° |
| Mon 11 May | 8:24 pm – 1:44 am | 5h 20m | Down (31%) | ESE 117° → E 81°, up to 77° |
| Tue 12 May | 8:24 pm – 5:24 am | 9h 00m | Up, 21% lit | ESE 117° → NNW 343°, up to 87° |
| Wed 13 May | 8:13 pm – 5:23 am | 9h 10m | Up, 13% lit | ESE 118° → N 10°, up to 87° |
| Thu 14 May | 8:13 pm – 5:33 am | 9h 20m | Up, 6% lit | ESE 117° → N 356°, up to 87° |
| Fri 15 May | 8:12 pm – 5:32 am | 9h 20m | Down (2%) | ESE 117° → NNW 342°, up to 87° |
| Sat 16 May | 8:01 pm – 5:31 am | 9h 30m | Down (0%) | ESE 118° → N 10°, up to 87° |
| Sun 17 May | 8:01 pm – 5:31 am | 9h 30m | Down (1%) | ESE 117° → N 355°, up to 87° |
| Mon 18 May | 8:00 pm – 5:30 am | 9h 30m | Down (5%) | ESE 117° → NNW 341°, up to 87° |
| Tue 19 May | 7:50 pm – 5:30 am | 9h 40m | Down (11%) | ESE 118° → N 8°, up to 87° |
| Wed 20 May | 7:50 pm – 5:30 am | 9h 40m | Up, 20% lit | ESE 117° → N 353°, up to 87° |
| Thu 21 May | 9:59 pm – 5:29 am | 7h 30m | Down (30%) | ESE 104° → NNE 20°, up to 87° |
| Fri 22 May | 11:09 pm – 5:29 am | 6h 20m | Down (41%) | E 97° → N 6°, up to 87° |
| Sat 23 May | 12:08 am – 5:28 am | 5h 20m | Down (52%) | E 90° → N 351°, up to 87° |
| Sun 24 May | 1:18 am – 5:38 am | 4h 20m | Down (62%) | ENE 71° → NNE 17°, up to 87° |
| Mon 25 May | 2:18 am – 5:38 am | 3h 20m | Down (72%) | WNW 293°, up to 83° |
| Tue 26 May | 3:17 am – 5:37 am | 2h 20m | Down (81%) | W 272°, up to 70° |
| Wed 27 May | 4:17 am – 5:37 am | 1h 20m | Down (88%) | W 265°, up to 56° |
| Thu 4 Jun | 6:46 pm – 8:26 pm | 1h 40m | Down (84%) | ESE 118° → ESE 108°, up to 30° |
| Fri 5 Jun | 6:46 pm – 9:26 pm | 2h 40m | Down (76%) | ESE 117° → ESE 102°, up to 43° |
| Sat 6 Jun | 6:46 pm – 10:26 pm | 3h 40m | Down (67%) | ESE 117° → E 95°, up to 56° |
| Sun 7 Jun | 6:46 pm – 11:26 pm | 4h 40m | Down (56%) | ESE 117° → E 88°, up to 70° |
| Mon 8 Jun | 6:46 pm – 12:36 am | 5h 50m | Down (46%) | ESE 116° → NE 54°, up to 85° |
| Tue 9 Jun | 6:46 pm – 1:36 am | 6h 50m | Down (35%) | ESE 116° → NNE 16°, up to 87° |
| Wed 10 Jun | 6:46 pm – 2:36 am | 7h 50m | Down (25%) | ESE 115° → N 0°, up to 87° |
| Thu 11 Jun | 6:46 pm – 5:46 am | 11h 00m | Up, 16% lit | ESE 115° → NNW 343°, up to 87° |
| Fri 12 Jun | 6:46 pm – 5:46 am | 11h 00m | Up, 8% lit | ESE 114° → N 8°, up to 87° |
| Sat 13 Jun | 6:46 pm – 5:46 am | 11h 00m | Down (3%) | ESE 114° → N 351°, up to 87° |
| Sun 14 Jun | 6:46 pm – 5:46 am | 11h 00m | Down (0%) | ESE 114° → NNE 16°, up to 87° |
| Mon 15 Jun | 6:46 pm – 5:46 am | 11h 00m | Down (1%) | ESE 113° → N 0°, up to 87° |
| Tue 16 Jun | 6:46 pm – 5:46 am | 11h 00m | Down (4%) | ESE 113° → NNW 343°, up to 87° |
| Wed 17 Jun | 6:46 pm – 5:46 am | 11h 00m | Up, 9% lit | ESE 112° → N 8°, up to 87° |
| Thu 18 Jun | 6:46 pm – 5:46 am | 11h 00m | Up, 17% lit | ESE 112° → N 350°, up to 87° |
| Fri 19 Jun | 9:57 pm – 5:47 am | 7h 50m | Down (26%) | E 93° → NNE 15°, up to 87° |
| Sat 20 Jun | 11:07 pm – 5:47 am | 6h 40m | Down (36%) | E 81° → N 358°, up to 87° |
| Sun 21 Jun | 12:07 am – 5:47 am | 5h 40m | Down (47%) | NNW 341°, up to 87° |
| Mon 22 Jun | 1:07 am – 5:47 am | 4h 40m | Down (58%) | W 277°, up to 75° |
| Tue 23 Jun | 2:07 am – 5:47 am | 3h 40m | Down (67%) | W 267°, up to 61° |
| Wed 24 Jun | 2:58 am – 5:48 am | 2h 50m | Down (76%) | W 262°, up to 50° |
| Thu 25 Jun | 3:58 am – 5:48 am | 1h 50m | Down (84%) | WSW 256°, up to 36° |
| Fri 3 Jul | 6:50 pm – 8:20 pm | 1h 30m | Down (88%) | ESE 106° → E 97°, up to 52° |
| Sat 4 Jul | 6:51 pm – 9:21 pm | 2h 30m | Down (80%) | ESE 105° → E 90°, up to 66° |
| Sun 5 Jul | 6:51 pm – 10:21 pm | 3h 30m | Down (71%) | ESE 105° → ENE 76°, up to 80° |
| Mon 6 Jul | 6:52 pm – 11:22 pm | 4h 30m | Down (61%) | ESE 105° → N 7°, up to 87° |
| Tue 7 Jul | 6:52 pm – 12:22 am | 5h 30m | Down (50%) | ESE 104° → NNW 349°, up to 87° |
| Wed 8 Jul | 6:52 pm – 1:32 am | 6h 40m | Down (39%) | ESE 104° → NNE 12°, up to 87° |
| Thu 9 Jul | 6:53 pm – 2:43 am | 7h 50m | Down (28%) | ESE 103° → N 354°, up to 87° |
| Fri 10 Jul | 6:53 pm – 5:03 am | 10h 10m | Up, 18% lit | ESE 103° → NNE 18°, up to 87° |
| Sat 11 Jul | 6:54 pm – 5:04 am | 10h 10m | Down (10%) | ESE 102° → N 359°, up to 87° |
| Sun 12 Jul | 6:54 pm – 5:04 am | 10h 10m | Down (4%) | ESE 102° → NNW 341°, up to 87° |
| Mon 13 Jul | 6:55 pm – 4:55 am | 10h 00m | Down (1%) | ESE 102° → N 5°, up to 87° |
| Tue 14 Jul | 6:55 pm – 4:55 am | 10h 00m | Down (0%) | ESE 101° → NNW 346°, up to 87° |
| Wed 15 Jul | 6:56 pm – 4:46 am | 9h 50m | Down (2%) | E 101° → N 10°, up to 87° |
| Thu 16 Jul | 6:56 pm – 4:46 am | 9h 50m | Up, 7% lit | E 100° → N 351°, up to 87° |
| Fri 17 Jul | 6:56 pm – 4:36 am | 9h 40m | Up, 14% lit | E 100° → NNE 15°, up to 87° |
| Sat 18 Jul | 6:57 pm – 4:37 am | 9h 40m | Up, 22% lit | E 100° → N 356°, up to 87° |
| Sun 19 Jul | 10:57 pm – 4:27 am | 5h 30m | Down (32%) | WNW 284°, up to 80° |
| Mon 20 Jul | 11:58 pm – 4:28 am | 4h 30m | Down (42%) | W 270°, up to 66° |
| Tue 21 Jul | 12:48 am – 4:28 am | 3h 40m | Down (52%) | W 264°, up to 55° |
| Wed 22 Jul | 1:49 am – 4:19 am | 2h 30m | Down (62%) | WSW 258°, up to 41° |
| Thu 23 Jul | 2:49 am – 4:19 am | 1h 30m | Down (71%) | WSW 252°, up to 28° |
| Sat 1 Aug | 7:04 pm – 8:04 pm | 1h 00m | Down (91%) | E 93° → E 85°, up to 73° |
| Sun 2 Aug | 7:04 pm – 9:04 pm | 2h 00m | Down (84%) | E 93° → NE 44°, up to 86° |
| Mon 3 Aug | 7:05 pm – 10:15 pm | 3h 10m | Down (75%) | E 92° → N 352°, up to 87° |
| Tue 4 Aug | 7:06 pm – 11:16 pm | 4h 10m | Down (65%) | E 92° → NNE 15°, up to 87° |
| Wed 5 Aug | 7:06 pm – 12:26 am | 5h 20m | Down (54%) | E 91° → N 357°, up to 87° |
| Thu 6 Aug | 7:07 pm – 1:37 am | 6h 30m | Down (42%) | E 91° → NNE 20°, up to 87° |
| Fri 7 Aug | 7:07 pm – 2:47 am | 7h 40m | Down (31%) | E 90° → N 1°, up to 87° |
| Sat 8 Aug | 7:08 pm – 3:18 am | 8h 10m | Down (20%) | E 90° → NNW 343°, up to 87° |
| Sun 9 Aug | 7:08 pm – 3:08 am | 8h 00m | Down (12%) | E 89° → N 6°, up to 87° |
| Mon 10 Aug | 7:09 pm – 3:09 am | 8h 00m | Down (5%) | E 88° → NNW 347°, up to 87° |
| Tue 11 Aug | 7:09 pm – 2:59 am | 7h 50m | Down (1%) | E 88° → N 11°, up to 87° |
| Wed 12 Aug | 7:10 pm – 3:00 am | 7h 50m | Down (0%) | E 87° → N 352°, up to 87° |
| Thu 13 Aug | 7:10 pm – 2:50 am | 7h 40m | Down (1%) | E 86° → NNE 15°, up to 87° |
| Fri 14 Aug | 7:11 pm – 2:51 am | 7h 40m | Up, 5% lit | E 85° → N 356°, up to 87° |
| Sat 15 Aug | 7:11 pm – 2:41 am | 7h 30m | Up, 11% lit | E 85° → NNE 19°, up to 87° |
| Sun 16 Aug | 7:12 pm – 2:42 am | 7h 30m | Up, 19% lit | E 84° → N 1°, up to 87° |
| Mon 17 Aug | 10:42 pm – 2:42 am | 4h 00m | Down (27%) | W 266°, up to 59° |
| Tue 18 Aug | 11:43 pm – 2:33 am | 2h 50m | Down (36%) | W 259°, up to 45° |
| Wed 19 Aug | 12:43 am – 2:33 am | 1h 50m | Down (46%) | WSW 253°, up to 32° |
| Mon 31 Aug | 7:20 pm – 9:00 pm | 1h 40m | Down (87%) | NNE 13°, up to 87° |
| Tue 1 Sep | 7:21 pm – 10:11 pm | 2h 50m | Down (79%) | N 354°, up to 87° |
| Wed 2 Sep | 7:21 pm – 11:21 pm | 4h 00m | Down (68%) | NNW 336°, up to 87° |
| Thu 3 Sep | 7:22 pm – 12:32 am | 5h 10m | Down (57%) | NW 322°, up to 86° |
| Fri 4 Sep | 7:22 pm – 1:22 am | 6h 00m | Down (45%) | NW 311°, up to 86° |
| Sat 5 Sep | 7:23 pm – 1:23 am | 6h 00m | Down (34%) | NW 304°, up to 85° |
| Sun 6 Sep | 7:23 pm – 1:23 am | 6h 00m | Down (23%) | WNW 298°, up to 84° |
| Mon 7 Sep | 7:24 pm – 1:14 am | 5h 50m | Down (14%) | WNW 294°, up to 83° |
| Tue 8 Sep | 7:25 pm – 1:15 am | 5h 50m | Down (7%) | WNW 290°, up to 82° |
| Wed 9 Sep | 7:25 pm – 1:05 am | 5h 40m | Down (2%) | WNW 288°, up to 81° |
| Thu 10 Sep | 7:26 pm – 1:06 am | 5h 40m | Down (0%) | WNW 285°, up to 80° |
| Fri 11 Sep | 7:26 pm – 12:56 am | 5h 30m | Down (1%) | WNW 283°, up to 80° |
| Sat 12 Sep | 7:27 pm – 12:57 am | 5h 30m | Down (3%) | WNW 282°, up to 79° |
| Sun 13 Sep | 7:28 pm – 12:48 am | 5h 20m | Up, 8% lit | W 280°, up to 78° |
| Mon 14 Sep | 7:28 pm – 12:48 am | 5h 20m | Up, 14% lit | W 279°, up to 77° |
| Tue 15 Sep | 7:29 pm – 12:39 am | 5h 10m | Up, 22% lit | W 278°, up to 76° |
| Wed 16 Sep | 11:29 pm – 12:39 am | 1h 10m | Down (30%) | WSW 250°, up to 25° |
| Tue 29 Sep | 7:38 pm – 8:58 pm | 1h 20m | Down (90%) | W 267°, up to 62° |
| Wed 30 Sep | 7:39 pm – 10:09 pm | 2h 30m | Down (82%) | W 267°, up to 61° |
| Thu 1 Oct | 7:40 pm – 11:20 pm | 3h 40m | Down (72%) | W 266°, up to 60° |
| Fri 2 Oct | 7:41 pm – 11:41 pm | 4h 00m | Down (61%) | W 266°, up to 59° |
| Sat 3 Oct | 7:42 pm – 11:32 pm | 3h 50m | Down (49%) | W 265°, up to 58° |
| Sun 4 Oct | 7:42 pm – 11:32 pm | 3h 50m | Down (37%) | W 265°, up to 57° |
| Mon 5 Oct | 7:43 pm – 11:23 pm | 3h 40m | Down (26%) | W 264°, up to 56° |
| Tue 6 Oct | 7:44 pm – 11:24 pm | 3h 40m | Down (17%) | W 264°, up to 55° |
| Wed 7 Oct | 7:45 pm – 11:15 pm | 3h 30m | Down (9%) | W 263°, up to 54° |
| Thu 8 Oct | 7:46 pm – 11:16 pm | 3h 30m | Down (4%) | W 263°, up to 53° |
| Fri 9 Oct | 7:46 pm – 11:06 pm | 3h 20m | Down (1%) | W 263°, up to 52° |
| Sat 10 Oct | 7:47 pm – 11:07 pm | 3h 20m | Down (0%) | W 262°, up to 51° |
| Sun 11 Oct | 7:48 pm – 10:58 pm | 3h 10m | Down (2%) | W 262°, up to 50° |
| Mon 12 Oct | 7:49 pm – 10:59 pm | 3h 10m | Up, 5% lit | W 261°, up to 49° |
| Tue 13 Oct | 7:50 pm – 10:50 pm | 3h 00m | Up, 10% lit | W 261°, up to 48° |
| Wed 14 Oct | 7:51 pm – 10:51 pm | 3h 00m | Up, 16% lit | W 260°, up to 47° |
| Thu 15 Oct | 7:52 pm – 10:42 pm | 2h 50m | Up, 24% lit | W 260°, up to 46° |
| Wed 28 Oct | 8:05 pm – 9:05 pm | 1h 00m | Down (92%) | WSW 254°, up to 33° |
| Thu 29 Oct | 8:06 pm – 9:46 pm | 1h 40m | Down (85%) | WSW 253°, up to 32° |
| Fri 30 Oct | 8:07 pm – 9:47 pm | 1h 40m | Down (76%) | WSW 253°, up to 31° |
| Sat 31 Oct | 8:08 pm – 9:38 pm | 1h 30m | Down (65%) | WSW 252°, up to 30° |
| Sun 1 Nov | 8:09 pm – 9:39 pm | 1h 30m | Down (53%) | WSW 252°, up to 28° |
| Mon 2 Nov | 8:11 pm – 9:31 pm | 1h 20m | Down (42%) | WSW 251°, up to 27° |
| Tue 3 Nov | 8:12 pm – 9:32 pm | 1h 20m | Down (31%) | WSW 251°, up to 26° |
| Wed 4 Nov | 8:13 pm – 9:23 pm | 1h 10m | Down (21%) | WSW 250°, up to 25° |
| Thu 5 Nov | 8:14 pm – 9:24 pm | 1h 10m | Down (13%) | WSW 250°, up to 24° |
| Fri 6 Nov | 8:15 pm – 9:15 pm | 1h 00m | Down (6%) | WSW 249°, up to 23° |
| Sat 7 Nov | 8:16 pm – 9:16 pm | 1h 00m | Down (2%) | WSW 249°, up to 22° |
Across Western Australia
The calendar above is worked out for Perth. The moon sets the season's first and last nights, so they barely move across WA. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perth | 128 | 37 | 11h 00m | June | 87° |
| Exmouth | 125 | 38 | 10h 30m | June | 83° |
| Broome | 122 | 42 | 10h 20m | June | 79° |
| Albany | 130 | 36 | 11h 10m | June | 84° |
Dark-sky sites in Western Australia
Perth'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.
- The Pinnacles, Nambung National Park, 164 km from Perth. Limestone spires in the dunes, two hours north of Perth.
- Wave Rock, Hyden, 291 km from Perth (Bortle 4). A granite wave in the wheatbelt, with flat land all round.
- Lake Ballard, 558 km from Perth. A salt lake in the Goldfields, scattered with steel statues.
- Karijini National Park, 1,086 km from Perth. Remote Pilbara gorges under a very dark sky.
Questions
When is the best time to see the Milky Way in Western Australia in 2026?
June and July. In June, 18 nights from Perth have a dark core window of 3 hours or more, and the typical window is 6h 45m. Plan around the new moon: the nights either side of full moon drop out.
How high does the Milky Way core get in Western Australia?
From Perth it climbs to 87° above the northern horizon. In Broome it reaches 79°. The higher the core, the less haze and light glow it shines through.
When does the Milky Way season start and end in Western Australia?
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 6:10 pm to 6:50 am Perth time. The dark part of that is the window shown for each night above.