The Milky Way is visible every night, but most people have never seen it.
Our galaxy appears as a linear cluster of stars crossing the south sky.
Light pollution from highways, cities, and the moon itself often obstructs the bright display.
However, viewers in the Northern Hemisphere can get a clear view in July and August without using a telescope.
And the best time to see the Milky Way is quickly approaching, including several opportunities this week.
Rule number one: go somewhere with dark skies.
Simply put, this means an area well protected from light pollutionlocated away from busy highways and city skyline.
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 important to keep in mind the amount of lunar light, which can overwhelm the galaxy’s faint stars.
That leaves viewers with about 10 ideal viewing days per month in the summer, all clustered around the New Moon.
During the full Moon, we see the side of the Moon that is illuminated by the Sun. The new Moon is the opposite – the side where the Sun does not shine.
For this reason, the new Moon phase is considered the best time to observe celestial objects ranging from stars to entire galaxies.
For optimal viewing, aim for the last quarter up until three nights after the new moon, when the moon sets just after dark.
The Milky Way is visible from March to September in the Northern Hemisphere and from February to October below the equator.
It can usually be seen in the early morning from March to June and in the evening from July to early October.
However, it is difficult to distinguish a specific time to go out, as sunset and sunrise times change with the season.
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After winter solstice, for example, the nights will become progressively longer spring.
O summer solsticewhich occurs at the end of June, brings more daylight and shorter nights.
As a general rule, the best time to see the Milky Way is approximately one week between the end of a month and the beginning of the year. next.
We are halfway through the ideal viewing window that stretches from June 28th to July 8th.
O next The opportunity will arrive at the end of July, starting on July 28th and ending on August 7th.
After that, the next window will be August 26th to September 6th; then from September 24th to October 5th and so on.
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The constellations of the Milky Way include Perseus, Cassiopeia, Aquila, and Scorpio.
Viewers in the Southern Hemisphere can also spot Norma, Circinus, Crux, and Carina.
Novice astronomers can take advantage of mobile apps like Night Sky, which offer a simulation of celestial objects based on the user’s location.
Best dark sky spots to see the Milky Way
Here are the 10 best places to see the Milky Way in the US and UK:
U.S
- Death Valley National Park – California
- Arches National Park – Utah
- Vermillion Cliffs National Monument – Arizona
- Samuel H. Boardman Scenic Corridor – 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
UK
- 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
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
