The Milky Way is visible every night, but most people have never seen it.
Our galaxy appears as a linear collection of stars sweeping across the south sky.
Light pollution from highways, cities and the moon itself often obscures the dazzling spectacle.
However, visitors in the Northern Hemisphere can see it clearly in July and August, without a telescope.
And the best time to see the Milky Way is fast approaching. There are several opportunities this week.
Rule number one: go to a place with a dark sky.
Simply put, this means an area that is well protected from light pollutionlocated far away from busy highways and cityscapes.
California’s Anza Borrego Desert and Joshua Tree National Park are just two examples of designated dark sky parks.
In addition to location, it is also important to consider the amount of moonlight, as this can overshadow the faint stars in the galaxy.
This gives viewers about 10 ideal viewing days per month in the summer, all around the new moon.
During a full moon we see the face of the moon that is illuminated by the sun. The new moon is the opposite – the side where the sun does not shine.
Therefore, the new moon phase is considered the best time to view celestial bodies, from stars to entire galaxies.
For best viewing, it is best to view the moon in the last quarter to three nights after new moon, when the moon sets just after sunset.
The Milky Way is visible from March to September in the Northern Hemisphere and from February to October below the equator.
From March to June the bird can usually be seen early in the morning and from July to early October in the evening.
However, it is difficult to pinpoint a specific time to leave, as sunset and sunrise times vary by season.
After the winter solstice for example, the nights gradually become longer in the spring.
The summer solsticewhich takes place at the end of June, brings more daylight and shorter nights.
In general, the best time to see the Milky Way is about a week between the end of the month and the beginning of the month. next one.
We are about halfway through the optimal viewing window of June 28th to July 8th.
The next one The opportunity arises at the end of July, from July 28th to August 7th.
Then the next window is from August 26 to September 6, then from September 24 to October 5, and so on.
Constellations of the Milky Way include Perseus, Cassiopeia, Aquila and Scorpius.
Viewers in the Southern Hemisphere can also spot Norma, Circinus, Crux and Carina.
Beginning stargazers can take advantage of mobile apps like Night Sky, which provide a simulation of celestial objects based on the user’s location.
Best dark sky locations to view the Milky Way
These are the 10 best locations to see the Milky Way in the US and UK:
United States
- Death Valley National Park – California
- Arches National Park – Utah
- Vermillion Cliffs National Monument – Arizona
- Scenic Corridor by Samuel H. Boardman – Oregon
- Acadia National Park – Maine
- Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park – Arizona
- Adirondack Mountains – New York
- Waimea Canyon – Kauai, Hawaii
- Bisti Badlands – New Mexico
- Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest – California
United Kingdom
- Cairngorms National Park (Tomintoul and Glenlivet – Cairngorms) – Scotland
- North York Moors National Park – North East England
- Yorkshire Dales National Park – North East England
- Northumberland National Park (with Kielder Water and Forest Park) – North East England
- Lake District National Park – North West England
- Snowdonia National Park – Wales
- Elan Valley – Wales
- Brecon Beacons National Park – Wales
- Exmoor National Park – South West England
- South Downs National Park – South East England