As I understand it, you need to visit the Southern Hemisphere to be able to see the Milky Way. It always passes right overhead, whatever the time of year. We are at exactly the right latitude, it seems. It's nearly impossible to see anything much from the city (where I am now), but at my country house it is easily visible. It is so clear that the moonlight casts shadows, and you can certainly walk around without bumping into things. I am about to go there now. What is the brightest object in the night sky after the moon? For us it is Venus, but I have no idea of the names of the stars.