Latest news with #Dyches
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
The Milky Way will be visible this weekend. Here's how to see it
If you've never gotten a good luck at the Milky Way galaxy, you'll have that opportunity on Fourth of July weekend. "The best time to see the Milky Way in (Massachusetts) is from March to September," according to the Capture the Atlas website. The best part? You don't need any fancy telescopes or equipment to view it. The Milky Way is our home galaxy with a disc of stars that spans more than 100,000 light-years. Because it appears as a rotating disc curving out from a dense central region, the Milky Way is known as a spiral galaxy. Our planet sits along one of the galaxy's spiral arms, about halfway from the center, according to NASA. The Milky Way sits in a cosmic neighborhood called the Local Group that includes more than 50 other galaxies. Those galaxies can be as "small" as a dwarf galaxy with up to only a few billion stars or as large as Andromeda, our nearest large galactic neighbor. The Milky Way got its name because from our perspective on Earth, it appears as a faint, milky band of light stretching across the sky. The Capture the Atlas website states that, "from July to August: The Milky Way is visible during the middle of the night." Though the Milky Way is generally always visible from Earth, certain times of year are better for stargazers to catch a glimpse of the band of billions of stars. But because visibility from Earth depends on the latitude, the further south you go, the longer the Milky Way season will last. For instance, in the Northern Hemisphere, which includes the continental United States, the best time to see the Milky Way is generally from March to September, according to Capture the Atlas. What you're looking at when the Milky Way is visible is the bright center of our galaxy, "seen edge-on from our position within the galaxy's disk," Preston Dyches, who hosts NASA's "What's Up," a monthly video series that describes what's happening in the night sky, wrote for NASA. The center of the Milky Way, which Dyches refers to as "the core," became visible in June and is expected to shine every night through August as it gets higher in a darker sky. Typically, the sky is darkest from about midnight to 5 a.m., according to Capture the Atlas. You can check sunrise and sunset times at your location using the website TimeAndDate. "This doesn't mean that as soon as the sun goes down you can see the Milky Way," writes Dan Zafra, co-founder of Capture the Atlas. "Even if it's in the sky, the Milky Way will be barely visible during blue hour, so you'll have to wait at least until the end of the astronomical twilight to see all the details of the Milky Way." Stargazers can observe the Milky Way galaxy by looking for the Summer Triangle, a shape formed by "three bright stars" that spans across the Milky Way, according to science news website LiveScience. In the Northern Hemisphere, the Milky Way rises in the southeast, travels across the southern sky and sets in the southwest, according to The Milky Way can be seen clearly with the naked eye. But in a past interview with USA Today Network, Tim Brothers, Massachusetts Institute of Technology technical Instructor and observatory manager, said with any case of stargazing, it's much better if you're using a good telescope or a pair of binoculars. Eric Lagatta contributed to this report. He is the Space Connect reporter for the USA Today Network. This article originally appeared on You'll be able to see the Milky Way this weekend. Here's how
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Milky Way may be visible July 4 weekend in California, across US: How to see our galaxy
Looking for an alternative to fireworks? California stargazers have the opportunity to catch a cosmic light show this Independence Day when the Milky Way appears in the night sky. The center of our home galaxy, which is composed of billions of stars, is expected to be bright and vibrant throughout the month ahead, including Fourth of July weekend. Astronomers say this is perhaps the best time of year to glimpse the iconic band of hazy light known as the Milky Way as it arcs across the sky. The best part? You don't need any fancy telescopes or equipment to view it; just your eyes – and maybe a camera, if you're into astral photography. Milky Way photos: See images of our galaxy making itself visible around the globe Here's everything to know about our Milky Way, including how to see the stunning natural phenomenon. The Milky Way is our home galaxy with a disc of stars that spans more than 100,000 light-years. Because it appears as a rotating disc curving out from a dense central region, the Milky Way is known as a spiral galaxy. Our planet is located along one of the galaxy's spiral arms, about halfway from the center, according to NASA. The Milky Way sits in a cosmic neighborhood called the Local Group that includes more than 50 other galaxies. Those galaxies can be as small as a dwarf galaxy with up to only a few billion stars, or as large as Andromeda, our nearest large galactic neighbor. The Milky Way got its name because from our perspective on Earth, it appears as a faint, milky band of light stretching across the entire sky. While the Milky Way is generally always visible from Earth, certain times of year are better for stargazers to catch a glimpse of the band of billions of stars comprising our galaxy. "Milky Way season," when the galaxy's bright center becomes easier to see from Earth, typically runs from February to October, according to Milky Way photography website Capture the Atlas. But because visibility from Earth depends on the latitude, the further south you go, the longer the Milky Way season will last. For instance, in the Northern Hemisphere, which includes the entire continental United States, the best time to see the Milky Way is generally from March to September, according to Capture the Atlas. What you're looking at when the Milky Way is visible is the bright center of our galaxy, "seen edge-on from our position within the galaxy's disk," Preston Dyches, who hosts NASA's "What's Up," a monthly video series that describes what's happening in the night sky, wrote for NASA. The center of the Milky Way, which Dyches refers to as "the core," became visible in June, and is expected to shine every night through August as it gets higher in a darker sky. Typically, the sky is darkest between sunset and sunrise, or about midnight and 5 a.m., according to Capture the Atlas. You can check the sunrise and sunset times at your location using the website TimeAndDate. "This doesn't mean that as soon as the sun goes down, you can see the Milky Way," writes Dan Zafra, co-founder of Capture the Atlas. "Even if it's in the sky, the Milky Way will be barely visible during blue hour, so you'll have to wait at least until the end of the astronomical twilight to see all the details of the Milky Way." Stargazers can observe the Milky Way galaxy by looking for the Summer Triangle, a shape formed by "three bright stars" that spans across the Milky Way, according to science news website LiveScience. In the Northern Hemisphere, the Milky Way rises in the southeast, travels across the southern sky and sets in the southwest, according to Spectators will have the best luck on cloud-free nights and in locations away from city light pollution – including *ahem* fireworks. DarkSky International maintains a website that lists all designated dark sky communities around the world, including 159 locations in the U.S. There are several in California, including in Death Valley, Joshua Tree National Park, Borrego Springs, Anza Borrego Desert State Park and Julian. Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at elagatta@ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is Milky Way visible from California? How to see galaxy July 4 weekend
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Milky Way may be visible during July 4 weekend: When, how to see our galaxy from Florida
Looking for an alternative to fireworks? Stargazers have the opportunity to catch a cosmic light show this Independence Day when the Milky Way appears in the night sky. The center of our home galaxy, which is composed of billions of stars, is expected to be bright and vibrant throughout the month ahead, including the July Fourth weekend. Astronomers say this is perhaps the best time of year to glimpse the iconic band of hazy light known as the Milky Way as it arcs across the sky. The best part? You don't need any fancy telescopes or equipment to view it; just your eyes – and maybe a camera, if you're into astral photography. Milky Way photos: See images of our galaxy making itself visible around the globe Here's everything to know about our Milky Way, including how to see the stunning natural phenomenon. The Milky Way is our home galaxy with a disc of stars that spans more than 100,000 light-years. Because it appears as a rotating disc curving out from a dense central region, the Milky Way is known as a spiral galaxy. Our planet is located along one of the galaxy's spiral arms, about halfway from the center, according to NASA. The Milky Way sits in a cosmic neighborhood called the Local Group that includes more than 50 other galaxies. Those galaxies can be as small as a dwarf galaxy with up to only a few billion stars, or as large as Andromeda, our nearest large galactic neighbor. The Milky Way got its name because from our perspective on Earth, it appears as a faint, milky band of light stretching across the entire sky. While the Milky Way is generally always visible from Earth, certain times of year are better for stargazers to catch a glimpse of the band of billions of stars comprising our galaxy. "Milky Way season," when the galaxy's bright center becomes easier to see from Earth, typically runs from February to October, according to Milky Way photography website Capture the Atlas. But because visibility from Earth depends on the latitude, the further south you go, the longer the Milky Way season will last. For instance, southern states like Florida could have great views of the Milky Way from March to September, according to Capture the Atlas. Northern states in higher latitudes, though, may only have Milky Way sightings through late August. What you're looking at when the Milky Way is visible is the bright center of our galaxy, "seen edge-on from our position within the galaxy's disk," Preston Dyches, who hosts NASA's "What's Up," a monthly video series that describes what's happening in the night sky, wrote for NASA. The center of the Milky Way, which Dyches refers to as "the core," became visible in June, and is expected to shine every night through August as it gets higher in a darker sky. Typically, the sky is darkest between sunset and sunrise, or about midnight and 5 a.m., according to Capture the Atlas. You can check the sunrise and sunset times at your location using the website TimeAndDate. "This doesn't mean that as soon as the sun goes down, you can see the Milky Way," writes Dan Zafra, co-founder of Capture the Atlas. "Even if it's in the sky, the Milky Way will be barely visible during blue hour, so you'll have to wait at least until the end of the astronomical twilight to see all the details of the Milky Way." Stargazers can observe the Milky Way galaxy by looking for the Summer Triangle, a shape formed by "three bright stars" that spans across the Milky Way, according to science news website LiveScience. In the Northern Hemisphere, the Milky Way rises in the southeast, travels across the southern sky and sets in the southwest, according to Spectators will have the best luck on cloud-free nights and in locations away from city light pollution – including *ahem* fireworks. DarkSky International maintains a website that lists all designated dark sky communities around the world, including 159 locations in the U.S. Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at elagatta@ This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Could Milky Way be visible from Florida? When to see galaxy in July
USA Today
30-06-2025
- Science
- USA Today
Milky Way may be visible during July 4 weekend across US: When, how to see our galaxy
The center of our home galaxy, the Milky Way is composed of billions of stars that are expected to be bright and vibrant throughout July, including Independence Day weekend. Looking for an alternative to fireworks? Stargazers have the opportunity to catch a cosmic light show this Independence Day when the Milky Way appears in the night sky. The center of our home galaxy, which is composed of billions of stars, is expected to be bright and vibrant throughout the month ahead, including July Fourth weekend. Astronomers say this is perhaps the best time of year to glimpse the iconic band of hazy light known as the Milky Way as it arcs across the sky. The best part? You don't need any fancy telescopes or equipment to view it; just your eyes – and maybe a camera, if you're into astral photography. Milky Way photos: See images of our galaxy making itself visible around the globe Here's everything to know about our Milky Way, including how to see the stunning natural phenomenon. What is the Milky Way galaxy? The Milky Way is our home galaxy with a disc of stars that spans more than 100,000 light-years. Because it appears as a rotating disc curving out from a dense central region, the Milky Way is known as a spiral galaxy. Our planet is located along one of the galaxy's spiral arms, about halfway from the center, according to NASA. The Milky Way sits in a cosmic neighborhood called the Local Group that includes more than 50 other galaxies. Those galaxies can be as small as a dwarf galaxy with up to only a few billion stars, or as large as Andromeda, our nearest large galactic neighbor. Why is it called the Milky Way? The Milky Way got its name because from our perspective on Earth, it appears as a faint, milky band of light stretching across the entire sky. Is the Milky Way visible on Earth? When to see it While the Milky Way is generally always visible from Earth, certain times of year are better for stargazers to catch a glimpse of the band of billions of stars comprising our galaxy. "Milky Way season," when the galaxy's bright center becomes easier to see from Earth, typically runs from February to October, according to Milky Way photography website Capture the Atlas. But because visibility from Earth depends on the latitude, the further south you go, the longer the Milky Way season will last. For instance, in the Northern Hemisphere, which includes the entire continental United States, the best time to see the Milky Way is generally from March to September, according to Capture the Atlas. What you're looking at when the Milky Way is visible is the bright center of our galaxy, "seen edge-on from our position within the galaxy's disk," Preston Dyches, who hosts NASA's "What's Up," a monthly video series that describes what's happening in the night sky, wrote for NASA. When to see the Milky Way in July 2025? 'Blue hour' and Summer Triangle explained The center of the Milky Way, which Dyches refers to as "the core," became visible in June, and is expected to shine every night through August as it gets higher in a darker sky. Typically, the sky is darkest between sunset and sunrise, or about midnight and 5 a.m., according to Capture the Atlas. You can check the sunrise and sunset times at your location using the website TimeAndDate. "This doesn't mean that as soon as the sun goes down, you can see the Milky Way," writes Dan Zafra, co-founder of Capture the Atlas. "Even if it's in the sky, the Milky Way will be barely visible during blue hour, so you'll have to wait at least until the end of the astronomical twilight to see all the details of the Milky Way." Stargazers can observe the Milky Way galaxy by looking for the Summer Triangle, a shape formed by "three bright stars" that spans across the Milky Way, according to science news website LiveScience. In the Northern Hemisphere, the Milky Way rises in the southeast, travels across the southern sky and sets in the southwest, according to Spectators will have the best luck on cloud-free nights and in locations away from city light pollution – including *ahem* fireworks. DarkSky International maintains a website that lists all designated dark sky communities around the world, including 159 locations in the U.S. Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at elagatta@
Forbes
02-05-2025
- Science
- Forbes
NASA Urges Public To Look At Night Sky Now As ‘Nova' Nears
In the wake of 2024's total solar eclipse and rare displays of the Northern Lights, a third once-in-a-lifetime sight could be possible in 2025 as a star explodes as a nova for the first time since 1946. With T Coronae Borealis (also called T CrB and the 'Blaze Star') due to become 1,000 times brighter than normal and become visible to the naked eye for the first since 1946, NASA is advising sky-watchers to get to know the patch of sky it's going to appear in. T Corona Borealis is a dim star that will briefly become a nova (new star) sometime during 2025, increasing from +10 magnitude, which is invisible to the naked eye, to +2 magnitude, which is about as bright as Polaris, the North Star. It's a 'cataclysmic variable star' and a 'recurrent nova' — a star that brightens dramatically on a known timescale, in this case about 80 years. That last happened in 1946, so it's due any day now. Astronomers first predicted T CrB would explode between April and September 2024 after it suddenly dimmed in 2023 — a telltale sign that an explosion is imminent. However, that didn't happen. It was then predicted by scientists to 'go nova' on Thursday, March 27, 2025, but that also failed to happen. The 'Blaze Star' is about 3,000 light-years away from the solar system. When it does finally 'go nova,' it will become visible to the naked eye for a few nights. Unless you know where that star is in the night sky, it's not going to be an impactful event. NASA's Preston Dyches makes that point in a new blog post published this week — and it includes a valuable sky chart (below) showing everyone where to look. T Coronae Borealis is a dim star in a constellation called Corona Borealis, "Northern Crown," a crescent of seven stars easily visible after dark from the Northern Hemisphere. 'You'll find Corona Borealis right in between the two bright stars Arcturus and Vega, and you can use the Big Dipper's handle to point you to the right part of the sky,' writes Dyches. 'Try having a look for it on clear, dark nights before the nova, so you'll have a comparison when a new star suddenly becomes visible there.' He advises practicing finding Corona Borealis in the eastern part of the sky during the first half of the night after dark during May, 'so you have a point of comparison when the T CrB nova appears there."' T Coronae Borealis is a binary star system that consists of two stars at the end of their lives: a white dwarf star that's exhausted its fuel and is cooling down and a red giant star that's cooling and expanding as it ages, expelling hydrogen as it does. That material is gathering on the surface of the white dwarf. When it reaches a critical point, it triggers a thermonuclear explosion that causes a sudden and dramatic increase in brightness. The explosion only affects its surface, leaving the white dwarf intact, so the whole process can occur again and again, according to NASA. One Community. Many Voices. Create a free account to share your thoughts. Our community is about connecting people through open and thoughtful conversations. We want our readers to share their views and exchange ideas and facts in a safe space. In order to do so, please follow the posting rules in our site's Terms of Service. We've summarized some of those key rules below. Simply put, keep it civil. Your post will be rejected if we notice that it seems to contain: User accounts will be blocked if we notice or believe that users are engaged in: So, how can you be a power user? Thanks for reading our community guidelines. Please read the full list of posting rules found in our site's Terms of Service.
