Get ready to look up -- the Milky Way will be visible in Arizona's night sky over Memorial Day weekend.
This awe-inspiring sight is a massive spiral of stars, dust and gas stretching over 100,000 light-years across.
With dark skies and clear nights in many parts of Arizona, the state is one of the best places in the U.S. to see the glittery Milky Way. Just head outside after midnight and look up.
If you want to know more about other celestial events in 2025, here's a complete astronomical calendar of all the full moons, meteor showers and eclipses, plus a list of all the comets that will be visible in the Northern Hemisphere this year.
When can I see the Milky Way in Arizona?
You can see the Milky Way in Arizona throughout the year, but it will be especially visible from through May 30, including over Memorial Day weekend, when darker skies coincide with the new moon on May 26.
When can I next see the Milky Way?
After May 30, 2025, the next optimal window to view the Milky Way in Arizona will be around the new moon on June 25. During this period, the moon's minimal illumination ensures darker skies, enhancing the visibility of the Milky Way's core.
Where in the USA can you see the Milky Way?
In the Northern Hemisphere, the Milky Way appears to rise in the southeast, move across the southern sky and set in the southwest, according to Weather.com. Remote state and national parks and Southwest deserts are some of the best places to see the Milky Way, thanks to their dark skies and generally minimal cloud cover.
What is the best time to see Milky Way?
The best time to see the Milky Way in the Northern Hemisphere is between March and September, with May through October offering the clearest view of the galaxy's bright core. For peak visibility, head out between midnight and 5 a.m.
What planets are visible in May?
Several planets will be visible in May 2025, according to Earth Sky. Venus will shine brightly in the eastern sky just before sunrise, with Saturn appearing above it in the early morning hours. Mars and Jupiter will be visible in the evening sky after sunset, though Jupiter will set earlier as the month progresses.
Is the Milky Way visible every night?
The Milky Way is technically visible every night, but whether you can see it depends on several factors. Bright moonlight, clouds and light and atmospheric pollution can obscure the galaxy's glow. The best views occur under moonless skies far from city lights.
What is the darkest city in Arizona?
The darkest city in Arizona is Flagstaff. In fact, it was the world's first International Dark Sky City, designated by DarkSky International. Flagstaff has strict lighting ordinances, minimal light pollution and nearby astronomy centers such as like Lowell Observatory and the Marley Foundation Astronomy Discovery Center, making it one of the best places in the U.S. to see the Milky Way and other celestial wonders.