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Spring stargazers might be disappointed to find a major feature missing from the night sky: the core of the Milky Way. The Milky Way, the spiral-shaped galaxy we call home, is technically always visible, as all the stars we see are a part of it. But the heart of the galaxy, appearing as a band of light across the sky, is sometimes hidden from view. "At our mid-northern latitudes during the month of May, the great band of stars known as the Milky Way simply vanishes from the evening sky," Jim Todd, director of space science education at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, wrote in a newsletter Monday. That's because, from our vantage point, the disc of the Milky Way galaxy lies nearly parallel to the plane of our horizon, Todd explained. When the core of the galaxy rims the horizon, it's hidden by the denser atmosphere near the ground. That doesn't mean you can't see anything, of course. Replacing the core of the Milky Way high in the sky is a constellation known as Coma Berenices or "Berenice's Hair," named for Egyptian queen Berenice II, who was said to have sacrificed her hair as a votive offering. Understanding why Coma Berenice rises when the core of the Milky Way dips requires some understanding of shape. Most stars in our galaxy exist along a relatively flat disc, known as the galactic plane. The two points located farthest away from the disc are called the galactic poles (similar to the north and south poles on Earth, relative to the equator). As it turns out, Coma Berenice is near the north galactic pole. That means when the Milky Way flattens out against our horizon, Berenice's Hair is straight up in the sky. It's an interesting sight, but also an opportunity to break out your telescope and go searching for objects much deeper into the cosmos. "In this direction, where the glare and the dust of the Milky Way are minimal, the sky beckons you to look at the deep-sky objects beyond the Milky Way," Todd said. But for those hoping to stare into the heart of our galaxy, don't worry, you still have lots of opportunities. According to Space.com, the best time to view the Milky Way is in late summer and early fall, when its brightest portions arch overhead, running from the southwest to northeast parts of the sky. --Jamie Hale covers travel and the outdoors and co-hosts the Peak Northwest podcast. Reach him at 503-294-4077, jhale@oregonian.com or @HaleJamesB. Our journalism needs your support. Subscribe today to OregonLive.com. If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.