Latest news with #PrestonDyches
Forbes
4 days ago
- Science
- Forbes
The Perseid Meteor Shower Peaks Tonight — How To See It At Its Best
The annual Perseid meteor shower will peak overnight on Monday, Aug. 12, through Tuesday, Aug. 13, with an uptick in 'shooting stars' expected despite the presence of a waning full moon. The result of a comet twice the size of the object thought to have killed the dinosaurs and one of the annual highlights of the stargazing calendar, it usually produces up to 75 'shooting stars' per hour, but rates will be down this year. A view of the 2023 Perseid meteor shower from the southernmost part of Sequoia National Forest, near Piute Peak. Debris from comet Swift-Tuttle creates the Perseids. NASA/Preston Dyches The annual Perseid meteor shower peaks on Monday, Aug. 12, through Tuesday, Aug. 13, but is unlikely to deliver the 75 'shooting stars' per hour that would normally be visible because of an 84%-lit waning gibbous moon. According to EarthSky, the peak of the Perseids is predicted for 20:00 UTC (4:00 p.m. EDT) on Aug. 12, which makes the very early mornings of Aug. 11, 12 and 13 likely to be when there are the most meteors. With bright moonlight all night on those dates, it's also worth looking after these dates, particularly on Aug. 15, when the moon will have decreased in brightness and will rise around midnight. Although 'shooting stars' can be seen anywhere in the night sky, the radiant point of Perseids is the constellation Perseus, which rises in the northeast as it gets dark during August in the Northern Hemisphere. The best chance may be just after sunset and before moonrise, when the sky is still dark, on Aug. 12. It's a narrow window. 'Some Perseids will be visible shortly before/during moonrise on the evening of Aug. 12, when the sky should still be dark,' said Dr. Qicheng Zhang, astronomer at Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona, in an email. 'The overall rate of meteors will be lower at this time than in the early morning hours, but the rate of visible meteors might be comparable or even a bit higher than due to much fainter meteors being visible without the moon.' How To Watch A Meteor Shower In Strong Moonlight The strong moonlight will make the Perseids less impressive this year, but there are ways to maximize your chances. 'Watching from the shadow of, say, a house, tree, or mountain could be done to block direct moonlight when the moon is up and make viewing a bit more pleasant,' said Zhang. It's all because of 109P/Swift-Tuttle, a huge comet that takes 133 years to orbit the sun. Last in the solar system in 1992, its nucleus is 16 miles (26 kilometers) across, which is over twice the size of the comet or asteroid that is thought to have killed the dinosaurs, according to NASA. Further Reading Forbes Meet 'Ammonite' — A New World Just Found In The Solar System By Jamie Carter Forbes 20 Best Dark Sky Campsites In The U.S. For Stargazing, From Hipcamp By Jamie Carter Forbes See The Perseid Meteor Shower Now Before It Peaks, Experts Say By Jamie Carter
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@
