India, March 1 -- Want to plan a date under a million stars? As March begins, that's not just poetic but marks the start of India's Milky Way season. This is when the galaxy's luminous core rises high enough in the night sky to be visible to the naked eye, typically between midnight and 5am. The glowing band isn't visible in all its splendour year-round. But March and April bring clearer skies and lower humidity, making conditions ideal. After this window, enthusiasts often head north to Ladakh and Spiti for darker, crisper skies. Mumbai-based astronomer Vikram Virulkar explains, "While the Milky Way is visible for much of the year, the period after February is special because the galaxy's bright core begins to rise in the night sky. Densely packed with stars, this region makes the band appear more vivid and structured." Escaping urban light pollution is key. Maharashtra offers several accessible pockets, especially along the hilly stretches between Mumbai and Pune. Mihir Gilbile of the Horizon Astronomical Society, Pune, recommends interior Lonavala, Panshet and Bhandardara (Nasik). "With minimal haze and relatively low light pollution, enthusiasts observe deep-sky objects through large telescopes, and camps are already filling up," he says. South India's stargazing community is equally active. Anish Kumar, founder of RiSa Astronomy, is organising camps in Coorg, Kerala and Arunachal Pradesh this March. "Everyone is excited as this is the first opportunity in the year to see the core of the Milky Way," he says. Few places rival Gujarat's Great Rann of Kutch. Engineering student and astrophotographer Prathamesh Jaju says, "The vast white salt desert lies in one of India's least light-polluted regions. On still nights, the salt flats reflect the sky, creating the illusion of stars both above and below." The season offers more than Milky Way sightings. Virulkar notes that even a small telescope can reveal star clusters, nebulae and double stars, while Jupiter dominates March skies. Once a niche hobby, stargazing is expanding rapidly. "Today, despite the Capital's light pollution, our group includes astrophotographers, students and casual skywatchers drawn by eclipses and meteor showers," says Vijay Kapoor, founder of the Delhi Astronomy Club....