Latest news with #PrestonDyches
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@
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Welcome to the best month of the year for stargazing — expect killer views of the Milky Way, experts say
'Core season,' as the pros at NASA have dubbed it, is officially upon us. While the 'core' of the Milky Way galaxy is visible in the night sky across the Northern Hemisphere almost all summer long, experts have long recognized June as the ultimate time of year for stargazers. Preston Dyches, messaging strategist at NASA, confirms this astronomical phenomenon in the June release of his monthly video series. The Milky Way core 'is best observed from dark sky locations far from bright city lights, and appears as a faint, cloud-like band arching across the sky toward the south,' he informed viewers. The best news? Viewers in these prime locations don't need high-tech telescopes or even binoculars to stargaze this summer, though a closer view is often preferable for serious skygazers. The monumental sights spread across the cosmos this summer include several major constellations, ultra-bright stars, and seldom-seen planets. Remarkable as this year's full strawberry moon, visible on June 10 and early June 11, is slated to be, the new moon on June 25 offers the darkest night sky — which makes for the most vibrant stars and planets. Early risers can catch a glimpse of Venus and Saturn, which rise around 2 hours before the Sun. Venus casts low, intense light across eastern skies throughout mornings in the month of June, while Saturn can be identified by its massive size and characteristic rings alone. Meanwhile, Mars can be spotted towards the west, and remains a striking sight around sunset, as well as the hours that follow. Jupiter and Mercury continue to appear a bit more elusive, even in June. Jupiter is typically visible early in June, but it is expected to return as a fixture of the morning sky in July. In the last week of June, keep your eyes out for Mercury, which, per NASA, appears 'greyish-brown to the human eye,' and will be discernible as a fixture of the evening sky, around sunset, in late June. Other cosmic sights to behold include a slew of striking stars. Some seasoned stargazers take up viewing challenges during June and try to catch unique formations of stars alongside different planets. Regulus, the ultra-bright white 'heart' of the constellation Leo, will trail alongside Mars on June 16, while stars Castor and Pollux will form a line with Mercury on June 24, according to charts from EarthSky. Other visible constellations include the notable 'Summer Triangle,' which is made up of stars Vega, Deneb, and Altair. Longtime astronomer Patrick Moore originally coined the term, and said that not even the most 'myopic observer' could miss the cluster, which makes it a great starting point for beginner stargazers. By following these three bright stars, Milky Way viewers can spot Cygnus, Lyra, Aquila, Boötes, and Ursa Major. Observers on the East Coast of the United States are also expected to have especially unique skyward views as a result of recent Saharan dust movement, while stargazers closer to the northern border may have their sights obscured by drifting Canadian wildfire smoke.
