Milky Way Tonight in Tucson
Tonight's verdict for Tucson, Arizona, United States — cloud cover, moonlight, sky darkness and the exact window when the galactic core is high enough to see.
TucsonArizona, United States
GO TONIGHT
The sky looks favorable for Milky Way viewing.
Best window 14:45–20:20 local time
- Clouds
- 0%Very clear
- Moonlight
- Moderate36% lit
- Darkness
- ExcellentBortle 3
- Weather
- Clear skiesDry · 28°C
The night, hour by hour
The Milky Way climbs highest close to 5:00 PM — up to 29°.
Next seven nights
Tonight looks like the best night of the week here. Tap a night to redraw everything above.
Why this reading
- Almost no clouds are forecast.
- The Moon stays out of the way during the viewing window.
- The sky here is dark enough to see the Milky Way clearly.
- The Milky Way is up and usable for about 1.3 hours.
Almanac
| Sunset | 18:05 | |
|---|---|---|
| Darkness begins | 19:30 | astronomical twilight ends |
| Best viewing window | 14:45–20:20 | 1.3 h of usable core |
| Galactic core | peaks 29° above the horizon | usable from 14:45 local |
| Moon | 36% · waning crescent | below the horizon all night |
| Sky darkness | Bortle 3 | Rural sky |
| Darkness ends | 05:00 | |
| Sunrise | 06:20 |
Getting somewhere darker
Bortle 1 — unnamed darker area 15 km W of you · you are Bortle 3
Nearest darker sky: Bortle 1, 15 km W.
Weather feed is cached from 05:25 local — live numbers resume on the next refresh. Calculated 08:05 local time · Tucson, Arizona, United States
Representative night-sky photograph — not taken at this location.
Milky Way viewing guidance for Tucson
Milky Way visibility questions
Can I see the Milky Way tonight in Tucson?
Yes — conditions in Tucson line up tonight. Conditions suggest a good night: clouds look light, the Moon is bright, and your darkest available sky is Bortle 3. Your best chance is during the dark window above. The best viewing window is 14:45–20:20 local time.
What time is the Milky Way visible in Tucson tonight?
The usable window — galactic core above 15° altitude during darkness, with the Moon not washing it out — runs 14:45–20:20 local time. Outside that window the core is either too low or the sky is too bright.
What are the cloud and Moon conditions in Tucson tonight?
Cloud cover in the viewing window averages 0%, and the Moon is 36% illuminated, mostly below the horizon during your window.
How dark is the sky in Tucson?
Tucson is in a Bortle 3 area (Rural sky). A darker option — Bortle 1 — is about 15 km W.