· By Shinpei Tsubogami
When and What Time Can You See the Milky Way on Ishigaki Island?
The bright core of the Milky Way is visible from Ishigaki from February to October — right after dark in July and August, late at night to dawn in spring. Not visible November to January.
The brightest part of the Milky Way is the galactic core toward Sagittarius. From Ishigaki you can see it from February to October, at a different time of night each season.
- February–April: before dawn, rising in the east.
- May–June: late at night until dawn.
- July–September: high in the south right after dark. The best season.
- October: for about an hour after dark, setting in the west.
- November–January: the core is not visible. A faint winter Milky Way runs through Cassiopeia.
When the Milky Way core is up, month by month
| Month | Milky Way core |
|---|---|
| Jan | Not visible |
| Feb | 5:05–6:00 |
| Mar | 3:15–5:35 |
| Apr | 1:15–5:05 |
| May | 23:15–4:35 |
| Jun | 21:15–4:25 |
| Jul | 21:00–2:35 |
| Aug | 20:40–0:30 |
| Sep | 20:05–22:30 |
| Oct | 19:35–20:30 |
| Nov | Not visible |
| Dec | Not visible |
Hours when the core is more than 15° above the horizon in a dark sky. Calculated for Ishigaki on the 15th of each month, rounded to 5 minutes. At its highest it reaches about 37°.
Tips
- The moon makes it hard to see. Pick nights near the new moon, or the hours after moonset.
- Find a dark place with an open view to the south.
- Your eyes need about 10 minutes to adjust. Looking at your phone resets them.
On the star photo tour, when the Milky Way is up we frame your photo with it. Please hold still for about 5 seconds during each shot.