Horizon Hour

When to see the Milky Way in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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 111:12 PM – 3:32 AM4h 20m21°
Wed, Jun 211:13 PM – 3:33 AM4h 20m21°
Thu, Jun 311:04 PM – 3:24 AM4h 20m21°
Fri, Jun 411:05 PM – 3:25 AM4h 20m21°
Sat, Jun 510:56 PM – 3:26 AM4h 30m21°
Sun, Jun 610:57 PM – 3:27 AM4h 30m21°
Mon, Jun 710:48 PM – 3:28 AM4h 40m21°
Tue, Jun 2910:36 PM – 3:06 AM4h 30m21°
Wed, Jun 3010:35 PM – 2:55 AM4h 20m21°
Thu, Jul 110:35 PM – 2:55 AM4h 20m21°

Milky Way season

October 20260 of 3
November 20260 of 30
December 20260 of 31
January 20270 of 31
February 20270 of 28
March 202717 of 31
April 202719 of 30
May 202723 of 31
June 202723 of 30
July 202721 of 31
August 202719 of 31
September 202716 of 30
October 20273 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.