Spot the Milky Way without a telescope this summer

The best time to view is during the new moon
The center of the galaxy is only visible for part of the year
You'll need to travel to an area without light pollution

Updated: Jul 3, 2024 / 12:21 PM CDT

The Milky Way’s Galactic Centre and Jupiter (brightest spot at center top) are seen from the countryside near the small town of Reboledo, department of Florida, Uruguay, early on August 24, 2020. (Photo by MARIANA SUAREZ/AFP via Getty Images)

(NewsNation) — This summer, you can gaze at the Milky Way without the need for a telescope, but you may have to drive a bit to get a good view.

The center of our galaxy is visible in July and August for those in the Northern Hemisphere, with billions of stars visible in the night sky. It’s a sight 80% of North Americans have never seen, in part because the Milky Way is only visible during the new moon in places without urban light pollution.

The milky white band of stars, dust and gas that makes up the core of the galaxy is visible to the naked eye during the summer months, but if you’re struggling to see it, a camera that allows you to take long-exposure photos can pick up more colors and detail than it’s possible for us to view.

Stargazers will need to go during the darkest days of the month, centered around the new moon, and should also be mindful of sunrise and sunset times. Take at least 20 minutes to let your eyes adjust to the dark before trying to look at the sky.

If you want to see the Milky Way, you’ll also need to move away from light pollution that is present in much of the U.S. Light pollution is caused by excessive use of artificial light at night, from things like security lights that stay on all night or commercial buildings that continue to be lit up even when empty overnight. In addition to making it hard to see the stars, light pollution also has harmful effects on people, disrupting circadian rhythms and leading to health problems, as well as on wildlife.

Some of the darkest places in the U.S. are remote and require advance planning to visit. Think Death Valley, California, Big Bend National Park in Texas, Glacier National Park in Montana and the Central Idaho Dark Sky Preserve.

But there may also be options closer to home if you’re hoping to get a chance to see the Milky Way. Dark Sky Finder and Dark Site Finder both allow people to look for areas of the country with the least light pollution, including some urban dark sites.

The best dates to see the Milky Way are June 28 to July 8, July 28 to Aug. 7, Aug. 26 to Sep. 6 and Sep. 24 to Oct. 5.