The Milky Way is visible every night, but most people have never seen it.
Our galaxy appears as a linear cluster of stars that stretches south sky.
Light pollution from highways, cities and the moon itself often obscures the brilliant display.
However, Northern Hemisphere viewers can get a clear glimpse without using binoculars in July and August.
And the best time to view the Milky Way is fast approaching, including several opportunities this week.
Rule number one: get to a place with a dark sky.
Simply put, it means an area that is well protected from light pollutionwhich is located far from busy highways and city skylines.
California’s Anza Borrego Desert and Joshua Tree National Park are just two examples of designated dark-sky parks.
In addition to the location, it is important to be aware of the amount of moonlight that can drown out the faint stars in the galaxy.
Viewers thus have about 10 days of ideal viewing 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.
For this reason, the new moon phase is considered the best time to observe celestial objects from the stars to the entire galaxy.
For optimal viewing, aim for the last quarter of the moon to three nights after new moon, when the moon sets soon 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 generally be seen early in the morning from March to June and in the evening from July to early October.
However, it is difficult to discern a specific time to go as sunset and sunrise times change with the seasons.
After winter for example, the solstice, the nights will gradually get longer Spring.
The summer solsticewhich occurs at the end of June, brings more daylight and shorter nights.
In general, the best time to view the Milky Way is about a week between the end of a month and the beginning next.
We’re about halfway through the optimal viewing window that stretches from June 28th to July 8th.
The next the opportunity will come at the end of July, starting on July 28th and ending on August 7th.
After that, there will be another window from August 26 to September 6; then September 24 to October 5 and so on.
Constellations in the Milky Way include Perseus, Cassiopeia, Aquila and Scorpius.
Viewers in the southern hemisphere may also notice Norma, Circinus, Crux, and Carina.
Beginner stargazers can use mobile apps like Night Sky, which offer simulation of celestial objects based on the user’s location.
The best places in the dark sky to view the Milky Way
Here are the 10 best places 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
- 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
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