Milky Way Dates/Times for 2026
Below are the dates and times for viewing/photographing the galactic core of the Milky Way in 2026. All times are based on where I live in Southern Oregon at 42°N in Pacific Standard Time Zone (GMT-8). I used the PhotoPills App to plan all these dates/times, which you can also do using the planner in the PhotoPills App based on your own geographical location and time zone. Times will differ based on your location.
| Date | Milky Way Core Visible | Moonrise | Moonset |
| January 19th-28th, 2026 | |||
| January 19th, 2026 – Monday | 5:54am-5:56am | 8:25am | 6:13pm |
| January 20th, 2026 – Tuesday | 5:50am-5:56am | 8:51am | 7:23pm |
| January 21st, 2026 – Wednesday | 5:46am-5:55am | 9:14am | 8:31pm |
| January 23rd, 2026 – Thursday | 5:42am-5:55am | 9:35am | 9:41pm |
| January 23rd, 2026 – Friday | 5:38am-5:54am | 9:55am | 10:51pm |
| January 24th, 2026 – Saturday | 5:34am-5:54am | 10:16am | 12:04am 25th |
| January 25th, 2026 – Sunday | 5:30am-5:53am | 10:41am | 1:20am 26th |
| January 26th, 2026 – Monday | 5:26am-5:52am | 11:20am | 2:37am 27th |
| January 27th, 2026 – Tuesday | 5:22am-5:52am | 11:47am | 3:55am 28th |
| January 28th, 2026 – Wednesday | 5:18am-5:51am | 12:35pm | 5:07am 29th |
| Date | Milky Way Core Visible | Moonrise | Moonset |
| February 14th-25th, 2026 | |||
| February 14th, 2026 – Saturday | 4:12am-5:33am | 5:52am | 2:48pm |
| February 15th, 2026 – Sunday | 4:08am-5:32am | 6:26am | 3:57pm |
| February 16th, 2026 – Monday | 4:04am-5:31am | 6:54am | 5:08pm |
| February 17th, 2026 – Tuesday | 4:00am-5:30am | 7:18am | 6:18pm |
| February 18th, 2026 – Wednesday | 3:56am-5:28am | 7:40am | 7:29pm |
| February 19th, 2026 – Thursday | 3:52am-5:27am | 8:00am | 8:40pm |
| February 20th, 2026 – Friday | 3:48am-5:25am | 8:22am | 9:54pm |
| February 21st, 2026 – Saturday | 3:44am-5:24am | 8:45am | 11:09pm |
| February 22nd, 2026 – Sunday | 3:40am-5:23am | 9:13am | 12:27am 23rd |
| February 23rd, 2026 – Monday | 3:36am-5:21am | 9:47am | 1:45am 24th |
| February 24th, 2026 – Tuesday | 3:32am-5:20am | 10:30am | 2:57am 25th |
| February 25th, 2026 – Wednesday | 3:28am-5:18am | 11:26am | 4:00am 26th |
| Date | Milky Way Core Visible | Moonrise | Moonset |
| March 13th-25th, 2006 | |||
| March 13th, 2026 – Friday | 3:25am-5:51am (Moonrise 4:47am) | 4:47am | 1:31pm |
| March 14th, 2026 – Saturday | 3:21am-5:49am (Moonrise 5:24am) | 5:24am | 2:38pm |
| March 15th, 2026 – Sunday | 3:17am-5:48am | 5:54am | 3:48pm |
| March 16th, 2026 – Monday | 3:13am-5:46am | 6:19am | 4:58pm |
| March 17th, 2026 – Tuesday | 3:10am-5:44am | 6:42am | 6:09pm |
| March 18th, 2026 – Wednesday | 3:06am-5:42am | 7:04am | 7:22pm |
| March 19th, 2026 – Thursday | 3:02am-5:40am | 7:25am | 8:36pm |
| March 20th, 2026 – Friday | 2:58am-5:38am | 7:48am | 9:53pm |
| March 21st, 2026 – Saturday | 2:54am-5:36am | 8:15am | 11:13pm |
| March 22nd, 2026 – Sunday | 2:50am-5:35am | 8:47am | 12:32am 23rd |
| March 23rd, 2026 – Monday | 2:46am-5:33am (Moonset 12:32am) | 9:29am | 1:48am 24th |
| March 24th, 2026 – Tuesday | 2:43am-5:31am (Moonset 1:48am) | 10:20am | 2:54am 25th |
| March 25th, 2026 – Wednesday | 2:39am-5:29am (Moonset 2:54am) | 11:24am | 3:49am 26th |
| Date | Milky Way Core Visible | Moonrise | Moonset |
| April 9th-23rd, 2026 | |||
| April 9th, 2026 – Thursday | 1:39am-4:59am (Moonrise 2:42am) | 2:42am | 11:17am |
| April 10th, 2026 – Friday | 1:35am-4:57am (Moonrise 3:21am) | 3:21am | 12:21pm |
| April 11th, 2026 – Saturday | 1:31am-4:55am (Moonrise 3:53am) | 3:53am | 1:29pm |
| April 12th, 2026 – Sunday | 1:28am-4:53am (Moonrise 4:19am) | 4:19am | 2:37pm |
| April 13th, 2026 – Monday | 1:24am-4:54am (Moonrise 4:43am) | 4:43am | 3:47pm |
| April 14th, 2026 – Tuesday | 1:20am-4:49am | 5:05am | 4:58pm |
| April 15th, 2026 – Wednesday | 1:16am-4:47am | 5:26am | 6:11pm |
| April 16th, 2026 – Thursday | 1:12am-4:45am | 5:49am | 7:28pm |
| April 17th, 2026 – Friday | 1:08am-4:43am | 6:14am | 8:48pm |
| April 18th, 2026 – Saturday | 1:04am-4:41am | 6:45am | 10:10pm |
| April 19th, 2026 – Sunday | 1:00am-4:38am | 7:24am | 11:31pm |
| April 20th, 2026 – Monday | 12:56am-4:36am | 8:13am | 12:44am 21st |
| April 21st, 2026 – Tuesday | 12:52am-4:34am (Moonset 12:44am) | 9:15am | 1:44am 22nd |
| April 22nd, 2026 – Wednesday | 12:48am-4:32am (Moonset 1:44am) | 10:26am | 2:30am 23rd |
| April 23rd, 2026 – Thursday | 12:44am-4:30am (Moonset 2:30am) | 11:42am | 3:06am 24th |
| Date | Milky Way Core Visible | Moonrise | Moonset |
| May 8th, 2026 – Friday | |||
| May 8th, 2026 – Friday | 11:46pm-4:02am (Moonrise 1:52am) | 1:52am | 11:15am |
| May 9th, 2026 – Saturday | 11:42pm-4:00am (Moonrise 2:20am) | 2:20am | 12:21pm |
| May 10th, 2026 – Sunday | 11:38pm-3:59am (Moonrise 2:44am) | 2:44am | 1:29pm |
| May 11th, 2026 – Monday | 11:34pm-3:57am (Moonrise 3:06am) | 3:06am | 2:37pm |
| May 12th, 2026 – Tuesday | 11:30pm-3:55am (Moonrise 3:27am) | 3:27am | 3:48pm |
| May 13th, 2026 – Wednesday | 11:26pm-3:54am | 3:49am | 5:01pm |
| May 14th, 2026 – Thursday | 11:22pm-3:52am | 4:12am | 6:18pm |
| May 15th, 2026 – Friday | 11:18pm-3:50am | 4:40am | 7:40pm |
| May 16th, 2026 – Saturday | 11:14pm-3:49am | 5:15am | 9:04pm |
| May 17th, 2026 – Sunday | 11:10pm-3:47am | 6:00am | 10:22pm |
| May 18th, 2026 – Monday | 11:06pm-3:46am (Moonset 11:31pm) | 6:58am | 11:31pm |
| May 19th, 2026 – Tuesday | 11:02pm-3:44am (Moonset 12:24am) | 8:08am | 12:24am 20th |
| May 20th, 2026 – Wednesday | 10:58pm-3:43am (Moonset 1:05am) | 9:26am | 1:05am 21st |
| May 22nd, 2026 – Friday | 10:54pm-3:41am (Moonset 1:37am) | 10:44am | 1:37am 22nd |
| May 22nd, 2026 – Friday | 10:50pm-3:40am (Moonset 2:02am) | 11:59am | 2:02am 23rd |
| Date | Milky Way Core Visible | Moonrise | Moonset |
| June 8th-21st, 2026 | |||
| June 8th, 2026 – Monday | 10:59pm-3:22am (Moonrise 1:30am) | 1:30am | 1:31pm |
| June 9th, 2026 – Tuesday | 10:59pm-3:22am (Moonrise 1:50am) | 1:50am | 2:40pm |
| June 10th, 2026 – Wednesday | 11:00pm-3:21am (Moonrise 2:12am) | 2:12am | 3:54pm |
| June 11th, 2026 – Thursday | 11:01pm-3:21am (Moonrise 2:36am) | 2:36am | 5:11pm |
| June 12th, 2026 – Friday | 11:02pm-3:21am | 3:07am | 6:32pm |
| June 13th, 2026 – Saturday | 11:03pm-3:20am | 3:47am | 7:54pm |
| June 14th, 2026 – Sunday | 11:03pm-3:20am | 4:38am | 9:09pm |
| June 15th, 2026 – Monday | 11:04pm-3:20am | 5:44am | 10:10pm |
| June 16th, 2026 – Tuesday | 11:05pm-3:20am | 7:00am | 10:58pm |
| June 17th, 2026 – Wednesday | 11:05pm-3:20am | 8:21am | 11:35pm |
| June 18th, 2026 – Thursday | 11:05pm-3:20am (Moonset 12:03am) | 9:41am | 12:03am 19th |
| June 19th, 2026 – Friday | 11:06pm-3:20am (Moonset 12:27am) | 10:56am | 12:27am 20th |
| June 20th, 2026 – Saturday | 11:06pm-3:20am (Moonset 12:48am) | 12:06pm | 12:48am 21st |
| June 21st, 2026 – Sunday | 11:06pm-3:21am (Moonset 1:08 am) | 1:14pm | 1:08am 22nd |
| Date | Milky Way Core Visible | Moonrise | Moonset |
| July 8th-24th, 2026 | |||
| July 8th, 2026 – Wednesday | 10:59pm-3:34am (Moonrise 12:37am) | 12:37am | 2:51pm |
| July 9th, 2026 – Thursday | 10:58pm-3:35am (Moonrise 1:05am) | 1:05am | 4:09pm |
| July 10th, 2026 – Friday | 10:57pm-3:37am (Moonrise 1:39am) | Moonrise 1:39am | Moonset 5:28pm |
| July 11th, 2026 – Saturday | 10:57pm-3:37am (Moonrise 2:22am) | Moonrise 2:22am | Moonset 6:45pm |
| July 12th, 2026 – Sunday | 10:56pm-3:38am (Moonrise 3:20am) | Moonrise 3:20am | Moonset 7:52pm |
| July 13th, 2026 – Monday | 10:55pm-3:34am | 4:31am | 8:47pm |
| July 14th, 2026 – Tuesday | 10:54pm-3:31am | 5:51am | 9:29pm |
| July 15th, 2026 – Wednesday | 10:51pm-3:23am | 7:13am | 10:10pm |
| July 16th, 2026 – Thursday | 10:50pm-3:19am (Moonset 10:27pm) | 8:32am | 10:27pm |
| July 17th, 2026 – Friday | 10:50pm-3:19am (Moonset 10:50pm) | 9:48am | 10:50pm |
| July 18th, 2026 – Saturday | 10:49pm-3:15am (Moonset 11:11pm) | 10:58am | 11:11pm |
| July 19th, 2026 – Sunday | 10:48pm-3:11am (Moonset 11:31pm) | 12:06pm | 11:31pm |
| July 20th, 2026 – Monday | 10:46pm-3:07am (Moonset 11:53pm) | 1:13pm | 11:53pm |
| July 21st, 2026 – Tuesday | 10:43pm-2:59am (Moonset 12:17am) | 2:19pm | 12:17am 22nd |
| July 22nd, 2026 – Wednesday | 10:42pm-2:55am (Moonset 12:45am) | 3:25pm | 12:45am 23rd |
| July 23rd, 2026 – Thursday | 10:40pm-2:51am (Moonset 1:19am) | 4:28pm | 1:19am 24th |
| July 24th, 2026 – Friday | 10:39pm-2:47am (Moonset 2:00am) | 5:30pm | 2:00am |
| Date | Milky Way Core Visible | Moonrise | Moonset |
| August 5th-20th, 2026 | |||
| August 5th, 2026 – Wednesday | 10:18pm-2:01am (Moonrise 11:37pm) | 11:37pm | 1:55pm |
| August 6th, 2026 – Thursday | 10:16pm-1:57am (Moonrise 12:15am) | 3:11pm | |
| August 7th, 2026 – Friday | 10:14pm-1:53am (Moonrise 12:15am) | 12:15am | 4:27pm |
| August 8th, 2026 – Saturday | 10:12pm-1:49am (Moonrise 1:06am) | 1:06am | 5:37pm |
| August 9th, 2026 – Sunday | 10:10pm-1:45am | 2:09am | 6:35pm |
| August 10th, 2026 – Monday | 10:08pm-1:41am | 3:24am | 7:22pm |
| August 11th, 2026 – Tuesday | 10:06pm-1:37am | 4:44am | 7:56pm |
| August 12th, 2026 – Wednesday | 10:04pm-1:33am | 6:05am | 8:26pm |
| August 13th, 2026 – Thursday | 10:02pm-1:29am | 7:23am | 8:51pm |
| August 14th, 2026 – Friday | 10:01pm-1:25am | 8:36am | 9:13pm |
| August 15th, 2026 – Saturday | 9:59pm-1:21am | 9:48am | 9:34pm |
| August 16th, 2026 – Sunday | 9:57pm-1:17am (Moonset 9:55pm) | 10:56am | 9:55pm |
| August 17th, 2026 – Monday | 9:55pm-1:13am (Moonset 10:18pm) | 12:04pm | 10:18pm |
| August 18th, 2026 – Tuesday | 9:53pm-1:09am (Moonset 10:45pm) | 1:11pm | 10:45pm |
| August 19th, 2026 – Wednesday | 9:51pm-1:05am (Moonset 11:17pm) | 2:17pm | 11:17pm |
| August 20th, 2026 – Thursday | 9:49pm-1:01am (Moonset 11:56pm) | 3:20pm | 11:56pm |
| Date | Milky Way Core Visible | Moonrise | Moonset |
| September 3rd-17th, 2026 | |||
| September 3rd, 2026 – Thursday | 9:20pm-12:06am (Moonrise 11:01pm) | 11:01pm | 2:16pm |
| September 4th, 2026 – Friday | 9:18pm-12:02am (Moonrise 11:58pm) | 11:58pm | 3:27pm |
| September 5th, 2026 – Saturday | 9:16pm-11:58pm | 1:07am 6th | 4:27pm |
| September 6th, 2026 – Sunday | 9:14pm-11:54pm | 1:07am | 5:17pm |
| September 7th, 2026 – Monday | 9:12pm-11:50pm | 2:23am | 5:56pm |
| September 8th, 2026 – Tuesday | 9:10pm-11:46pm | 3:43am | 6:26pm |
| September 9th, 2026 – Wednesday | 9:08pm-11:42pm | 5:00am | 6:52pm |
| September 10th, 2026 – Thursday | 9:06pm-11:39pm | 6:46am | 7:15pm |
| September 11th, 2026 – Friday | 9:04pm-11:35pm | 7:26am | 7:36pm |
| September 12th, 2026 – Saturday | 9:02pm-11:31pm | 8:36am | 7:57pm |
| September 13th, 2026 – Sunday | 9:00pm-11:27pm | 9:45am | 8:19pm |
| September 14th, 2026 – Monday | 8:58pm-11:23pm | 10:53am | 8:45pm |
| September 15th, 2026 – Tuesday | 8:56pm-11:19pm (Moonset 9:15pm) | 12:01pm | 9:15pm |
| September 16th, 2026 – Wednesday | 8:54pm-11:15pm (Moonset 9:51pm) | 1:06pm | 9:51pm |
| September 17th, 2026 – Thursday | 8:52pm-11:11pm (Moonset 10:34pm) | 2:07pm | 10:34pm |
| Date | Milky Way Core Visible | Moonrise | Moonset |
| October 2nd-14th, 2026 | |||
| October 2nd, 2026 – Friday | 8:24pm-10:12pm | 10:58pm | 2:22pm |
| October 3rd, 2026 – Saturday | 8:22pm-10:09pm | 12:12am 4th | 3:15pm |
| October 4th, 2026 – Sunday | 8:20pm-10:05pm | 12:12am | 3:56pm |
| October 5th, 2026 – Monday | 8:18pm-10:01pm | 1:29am | 4:28pm |
| October 6th, 2026 – Tuesday | 8:17pm-9:57pm | 2:44am | 4:55pm |
| October 7th, 2026 – Wednesday | 8:15pm-9:53pm | 3:58am | 5:18pm |
| October 8th, 2026 – Thursday | 8:13pm-9:49pm | 5:09am | 5:39pm |
| October 9th, 2026 – Friday | 8:12pm-9:45pm | 6:19am | 6:00pm |
| October 10th, 2026 – Saturday | 8:10pm-9:41pm | 7:28am | 6:22pm |
| October 11th, 2026 – Sunday | 8:08pm-9:37pm | 8:36am | 6:46pm |
| October 12th, 2026 – Monday | 8:07pm-9:33pm | 9:44am | 7:15pm |
| October 13th, 2026 – Tuesday | 8:05pm-9:29pm | 10:51am | 7:48pm |
| October 14th, 2026 – Wednesday | 8:04pm-9:25pm (Moonset 8:29pm) | 11:54am | 8:29pm |
| October 15th, 2026 – Thursday | 8:02pm-9:21pm (Moonset 9:17pm) | 12:51pm | 9:17pm |
| October 29th, 2026 – Thursday | 7:43pm-8:26pm | 8:49pm | |
| October 30th, 2026 – Friday | 7:42pm-8:22pm | 10:02pm | 1:11pm |
| October 31st, 2026 – Saturday | 7:41pm-8:18pm | 11:19pm | 1:56pm |
| Date | Milky Way Core Visible | Moonrise | Moonset |
| November 1st-11th, 2026 | |||
| November 1st, 2026 – Sunday | 6:40pm-7:14pm | 1:31pm | |
| November 2nd, 2026 – Monday | 6:38pm-7:10pm | 1:59pm | |
| November 3rd, 2026 – Tuesday | 6:37pm-7:06pm | 12:49am | 2:22pm |
| November 4th, 2026 – Wednesday | 6:36pm-7:02pm | 1:59am | 2:44pm |
| November 5th, 2026 – Thursday | 6:35pm-6:58pm | 3:08am | 3:05pm |
| November 6th, 2026 – Friday | 6:34pm-6:54pm | 4:15am | 3:26pm |
| November 7th, 2026 – Saturday | 6:33pm-6:50pm | 5:23am | 3:49pm |
| November 8th, 2026 – Sunday | 6:32pm-6:47pm | 6:30am | 4:15pm |
| November 9th, 2026 – Monday | 6:31pm-6:43pm | 7:37am | 4:47pm |
| November 10th, 2026 – Tuesday | 6:30pm-6:39pm | 8:41am | 5:26pm |
| November 11th, 2026 – Wednesday | 6:29pm-6:35pm | 9:41am | 6:11pm |