Viewing the MIlky Way
Check out a super high res version of this image here
Every star you see in the night sky is in the Milky Way. In fact, every individual star you can see with the naked eye is in a small part of the Milky Way, nearest Earth. Our galaxy is huge!
The Milky Way galaxy contains somewhere between 200 and 400 billion stars. What we refer to the Milky Way you view in the night sky is the actual center of the galaxy. The milky looking cloud that stretches from horizon to horizon is the galactic center of the Milky Way. The cloud is made up of lots and lots of stars. Click on the image above to get an idea of the amount of stars we are talking about.
AccuWeather Astronomy friend Ron Shawley recently shot a meteor crossing the Milky Way.
The problem viewing the Milky Way is the fact that it is rather dim. The cluster of stars that make up the galactic center of galaxy is much further away than the individual stars you can see with the naked eye.
The Earth is about 26,000 light-years from the center of the galaxy. The closest stars are just over 4 light-years away; 23,600,000,000,000 miles away! So we are some 15,340,000,000,000,000. Yes, that is 15 quadrillion miles away!
So, you need a dark area to see the Milky Way clearly. The problem is, there are fewer and fewer of these places.
The brighter the color, the higher the light pollution. Image courtesy of World Atlas of Light
Zooming in on North America
The brighter the color, the higher the light pollution. Image courtesy of World Atlas of Light
Finding the Milky Way
The number one thing to do to ensure you have a chance of seeing the Milky Way is to let your eyes adjust to the darkness. Go at least 15-20 minutes in the dark let those pupils grow large enough to take in all the night sky has to offer!
While you are waiting for your eyes to adjust, find the Summer Triangle. It is made up of 3 of the brightest stars in the night sky. They are easy to spot later in the evening and through the overnight hours when they are high in the sky. The Milky Way flows right through this trio of stars.
Image courtesy of Lonley Speck. How to find the Milky Way
If you are looking in a northerly direction, use Cassiopia. This famous constellation looks like the letter "W". The Milky Way goes right through this constellation as well!
While Cassiopia generally shows the northern extent of the Milky Way, use Scorpius and Sagittarius to see the southern extent.
Image courtesy of Gold Paint Photography. How to find the Milky Way
There are some good mobile apps out there to help you find the Milky Way, but I would recommend using these apps indoors and putting your phone away before attempting to view the night sky. That phone light will kill your night vision. If you're looking for apps, here is a great write-up about what is available 5 Awesome Astronomy Apps
You will be more likely to see the Milky Way in the evening sky later in summer. Through early summer it is best viewed after midnight.
Good luck seeing the Milky Way! Look during the next few nights before the moon dominates the night sky next week. Thanks for reading and just look up, you never know what you will see!
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