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Help with Milky Way Forecast on iPhone, Android and the web. Can't find your answer, or a forecast looks wrong? Send us a message below.
Common questions
How does Milky Way Forecast decide if I'll see the Milky Way?
It checks the three things that hide it, together: how dark the sky is where you are (light pollution), clouds while the galactic core is up, and the moon. A Go night needs the sky fully dark (the sun 18° below the horizon), the core above the horizon, the moon down or thin, and clear sky. Maybe means one of those is marginal; Not tonight tells you which one rules it out.
Why does it say “Not tonight” when the sky looks clear?
Usually the moon: a bright moon washes out the Milky Way even in a clear, dark sky. Outside the core season (roughly February to October in the northern hemisphere) the core may also be below the horizon or up only in twilight. The verdict's detail line says which.
What is the Bortle number?
A 1–9 scale of how bright the night sky is: 1–2 is a truly dark site, 3–4 shows the Milky Way well, and from 5 up it fades out in suburbs and cities. Ours comes from our own sky brightness model, built from NASA's 2025 Black Marble satellite night lights and calibrated against sky meter readings, so it includes the glow that spreads miles past a city's edge. The dark sky map shows it everywhere.
How does “Where to go tonight” pick a place?
It searches up to about 190 miles around your place for the nearest dark sky (Bortle 3, or 4 if nothing nearby is that dark) on land you can drive to, then checks tonight's clouds and moon there. Distances are straight-line. It points at a patch of dark sky, not a parking spot: check the map for a safe, legal place to stop, such as a park, overlook or public land.
Do I have to share my location?
No. You can search for any place instead. If you do share it, it's used only to make your forecast; see the privacy policy.
How do I add the widget?
On iPhone, touch and hold the Home Screen, tap Edit, then Add Widget, and choose Milky Way Forecast. On Android, touch and hold the home screen, tap Widgets, and drag Milky Way Forecast onto it. The widget shows your selected place.
What is night vision mode?
It turns everything red and dim so your eyes stay adjusted to the dark (it takes about 20 minutes to adapt, and white light resets it). Turn it on with the eye button, or choose Automatic in settings to have it switch on at sunset and off at sunrise.
How do I delete my account?
On the website, open Account and choose Delete account. In the apps, open Settings, then Account, then Delete account. This removes your account and every place saved to it. You don't need an account to use Milky Way Forecast.