It's the best time of year to see our Milky Way. This summer, especially in July and August, the bright center of our galaxy becomes visible, but only to those who are in the right place at the right time. If the sky is clear, it is possible to see the billions of stars in our galaxy.
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Unfortunately, most people in North America and Europe have no chance of seeing the Milky Way unless they travel to a dark- sky. It's also necessary to avoid the strong moonlight, which makes it only about 10 days a month during the summer months suitable for easy viewing of the Milky Way in the dark. It's no wonder, then, that an estimated 80% of North Americans have never seen the Milky Way.
According to Capture The Atlas, it's possible to see the Milky Way this summer from the Northern Hemisphere, from March to September. From the Southern Hemisphere, that window extends by about a month on each side.
Your latitude on Earth makes a difference, but generally, the Milky Way is visible early in the morning from March to June and in the evening from July to early October. For example, if you wanted to see the Milky Way in March, you'd have to wake up at 4 a.m. By September, it's a post-sunset event.
There are other factors to consider, too. You need moonless night skies, prioritizing the 10 nights around the new moon — when the moon is not in the night sky — especially from the last quarter moon to three nights after the new moon (when the crescent moon sets just after dark).
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This means these dates are the best times to see the Milky Way this summer and fall:
- June 28 – July 8
- July 28 – August 7
- August 26 – September 6
- September 24 – October 5
You should also consider the times of sunset and sunrise, especially in July and August, as they limit the hours of darkness. You are most likely to see the Milky Way just after sunset then. However, you will need complete darkness to get a good view.
Don't forget to let your eyes adjust to the dark for at least 20 minutes before skywatching. This means not looking at your smartphone or any other bright, white light source after sunset. The best way to find a dark spot is to use Find a Dark Sky Place or Dark Site Finder , or consult a light pollution map.
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With suitably dark skies, you can see the Milky Way galaxy with the naked eye this summer — but a good small telescope or pair of stargazing binoculars can help you zoom in on objects of interest and take advantage of some of the best stargazing opportunities of 2024.
Source: livescience
