Milky Way Visibility

What it does

Forecasts which nights the Milky Way's core is above the horizon during astronomical dark while the Moon is not bright enough to wash it out.

What you need

A location, set with the location picker at the top. Without one, the screen asks you to set it in Settings. The calculation runs on the device, so no network connection is needed.

How to use it

1. Set your location.
2. Pick a date with the drag dial, the date field, or a day in the calendar. Use the month arrows on the calendar to browse other months.
3. Read the result card for that night.
4. Scroll to 30-Night Forecast and use the arrows to move through 30-night ranges.
5. Tap View on Map to open the Location Planner at your location and date.

Reading the results

• Result label: Clear Window, Partial Window, or Not Visible. Clear means the usable window lasts at least two hours. Partial means it is shorter than two hours.
• Detail line: the start and end time of the window and the Moon's illumination percentage. "Core not visible" means the core never rises high enough from your location that night. "No clear window" means the core is up but never during a moon-free dark period.
• Sky arc: the core's path across the sky for the chosen date, with a marker for its current position when the date is today.
• Calendar: each day carries an eye icon for its state (clear, partial, or not visible).
• 30-Night Forecast: one row per night with the date, window, moon illumination, and the same eye icon.

Tips

• Aim for nights marked Clear Window that also fall near a new moon.
• The calendar and the 30-night list move independently. Browsing one does not change the other.