This table allows you to plan for the darkest skies. The best time for stargazing is around new moon. A few days either side of new moon provides an opportunity to view most deep sky objects and also get a little sliver of moon. First and last quarter moon provides a good opportunity to view the moon with good crater shadows. Planets are still good targets. Towards full moon the skies become too bright to view deep sky objects, but the brightest planets may still be viewed with some success.
The best time to view the Milky Way is from July to September, so a new clear new moon night during this period is spectacular.
The Orion Nebula is always impressive and can be best viewed from November to about May.