Horizon Hour

When to see the Milky Way in Mesa, Arizona

Thursday, October 29, 2026 · local time

The Milky Way core is not well placed tonight: it is below 10°, the sky isn't fully dark while it's up, or a bright Moon is in the sky.

Best nights in the coming months

Night ofCore visibleWindowMax height
Tue, Jun 110:03 PM – 3:33 AM5h 30m28°
Wed, Jun 210:04 PM – 3:34 AM5h 30m28°
Thu, Jun 39:55 PM – 3:35 AM5h 40m28°
Fri, Jun 49:55 PM – 3:35 AM5h 40m28°
Sat, Jun 59:46 PM – 3:26 AM5h 40m28°
Sun, Jun 69:47 PM – 3:27 AM5h 40m28°
Mon, Jun 79:37 PM – 3:27 AM5h 50m28°
Tue, Jun 299:24 PM – 3:04 AM5h 40m28°
Wed, Jun 309:24 PM – 3:04 AM5h 40m28°
Thu, Jul 19:24 PM – 3:04 AM5h 40m28°

Milky Way season

October 20260 of 3
November 20260 of 30
December 20260 of 31
January 20270 of 31
February 202710 of 28
March 202718 of 31
April 202721 of 30
May 202724 of 31
June 202725 of 30
July 202723 of 31
August 202720 of 31
September 202717 of 30
October 202711 of 31
November 20270 of 30
December 20270 of 31
January 20280 of 3

Nights per month with at least 20 minutes of good viewing.

We count a night when the galactic centre is at least 10° above the horizon, the sky is fully dark (between astronomical dusk and dawn) and the Moon is below the horizon or less than 25% lit. City lights matter too: see the nearest dark area on the night sky page.