Galaxy Will Be Missing from Northwest Skies for Awhile - Oregon / Washington Coast Astronomy

Published 05/05/26 at 7:55 a.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Oceanside, Oregon) – If you're bouncing around the Oregon coast or Washington coast at night you may notice something's missing. (Above: Garibaldi / Oregon Coast Beach Connection)

The outline of the galaxy is gone.

According to Jim Todd, astronomy expert at Portland's OMSI, the Milky Way all but disappears from view on May evenings, creating one of the strangest sky shifts of the year for observers in the Pacific Northwest. It's going to be unique to mid-northern latitudes.

“The disk of our galaxy lies flat, nearly parallel to the horizon,” Todd told Oregon Coast Beach Connection. “Before midnight, the equator of the Milky Way circles the horizon rim, while the North Galactic Pole stands high overhead in the constellation of Coma Berenices (Berenice's Hair). In this direction - where the glare and dust of the Milky Way are minimal – the sky beckons you to look at deep-sky objects far beyond our own galaxy.”

Though these terms apply to any disk-shaped galaxy, they are most often used in reference to our own.

Places like Bandon, Long Beach, Forks, Ashland and Newport will show a different side at night (Newport / Oregon Coast Beach Connection).

Sky conditions will be at their darkest near the New Moon on May 16, which brings a “Super New Moon.” The Moon reaches perigee - its closest point to Earth - making it roughly 31,000 miles nearer than at apogee. Although the Moon is invisible during its new phase, its increased gravitational pull can amplify coastal water levels. Oregon and Washington residents may see higher-than-normal “king tides” following this alignment.

It's going to be responsible for some of the lowest tides of the year as well.

Low tides have much to do with Cannon Beach's Sandcastle Fest this year. Low Tides Herald Return of Oregon Coast Icon: Cannon Beach Sandcastle Fest 2026

The Milky Way’s low position along the horizon is also a seasonal marker, signaling that the year is halfway between the March equinox and the June solstice.

Todd said clear skies will offer the best chance to enjoy this brief celestial shift before the galaxy’s bright band rises higher again in summer.

Meanwhile, satellites are going bonkers above. Any night that's clear now you may see a dozen a minute – some of them brighter than most stars. Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff have spotted this a few times in the last week, with incredibly bright spacecraft zipping above. Super Moon, Blue Moon, Micro Moon and Meteor Shower - All Above Oregon / Washington Coast - Why we'll be getting extreme large and minus tides, plus meteors and more

Oregon Coast Hotels for this event - South Coast Hotels - Oregon Coast Vacation Rentals - Where to eat - Maps - Virtual Tours

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