The Milky Way, our home galaxy, is a spiral galaxy with a disk of stars spanning over 100,000 light years, according to NASA. Earth is located along one of the galaxy’s spiral arms, approximately halfway from the center, and it takes about 240 million years for our solar system to complete a single orbit. The Milky Way can be seen as a faint, milky band of light arcing across the sky, and it is visible between February and October, or most of the year. However, the majority of the US has a chance to see it only for a grand total of about a dozen days across four months, depending on one’s location.
The first two weeks of July are a prime time to catch a glimpse of our cosmic neighborhood. Once July 13 comes and goes, you’ll have to wait until early August to try again. Spotting the Milky Way isn’t as common as solar eclipses or planet parades, but it’s arguably harder in most ways. To see the Milky Way, you’ll need to travel to a location with minimal light pollution, as artificial light can drown out celestial bodies.
The exact dates and times to see the Milky Way differ from region to region, but it should be visible across the entire US around the same set of days. The best times to see it are the five days before and five days after a new moon. For example, in July, the Milky Way should be visible from July 5 to July 13, with July 6 being the best day to see it. However, it will only be visible for a few hours each night, and the duration varies depending on your location.
To see the Milky Way, you’ll want to be in the darkest and highest possible place in your area. Light Pollution Map and Dark Site Finder are useful tools for finding a sufficiently dark spot in your general area. Getting to higher elevations also helps, as it allows you to be above denser air and ground-level obstructions like fog.
The Milky Way is readily visible without the use of a telescope or high-powered binoculars, but a good camera with a tripod can help capture more light and produce better photographs. Aspiring photographers looking to get an awesome shot of the Milky Way need a fast lens, a long exposure time, a sturdy tripod, and enough patience to get the focus right.
Mark your calendar for Milky Way sighting options. The last few days of July and the first week of August will be the next good opportunity to see the Milky Way. After that, it’ll be the last few days of August and the first week of September. Use a moon calendar or a Milky Way calendar to determine the best dates for Milky Way sightings. Capture the Atlas makes Milky Way calendars every year and emails them for free to interested users.
