The billions of stars making up the Milky Way, our home galaxy, should appear especially vibrant as the band arcs across the night sky.

The peak period to view the Milky Way will be from Tuesday, May 20, to Friday, May 30. "The galaxy's bright core becomes easier to see—and gets higher in the sky—as of May," LiveScience.com said. This 10-day stretch is between the last quarter moon and the new moon, resulting in darker nights and better stargazing.