How to spot the Milky Way this summer: Tips for perfect stargazing nights

Summer is the best time to see the Milky Way! Here's how to find dark skies, adjust your eyes, and catch our galaxy's glowing center.

Transcript

00:00On a clear night sky, the sky is alive with thousands of stars twinkling overhead.

00:11From glowing meteor showers to the breathtaking view of our home galaxy, the Milky Way,

00:16stargazing brings a sense of wonder that's hard to match.

00:20Every star you see at night belongs to the Milky Way,

00:23but catching a glimpse of the galaxy itself isn't always so simple.

00:26That's because most of us live under light-polluted skies where city lights drown out the view.

00:33To truly see it, you'll need to escape the city glow and find a location with dark, open skies.

00:40Once you're there, give your eyes at least 30 minutes to adjust to the darkness.

00:45If you need a flashlight, use a red filter.

00:47White light can ruin your night vision.

00:49The most stunning part of the Milky Way is its galactic center,

00:53home to billions of stars packed tightly together.

00:57It appears as a bright, misty band across the sky, which is how it got its name.

01:02Your best chance of seeing this dazzling view is during June, July, and August,

01:07when Earth's night side is tilted toward the galactic center during its orbit around the sun.

01:12During winter, December through February,

01:15Earth's night side faces away from the galactic core,

01:18leaving just one of its outer spiral arms visible.

01:22For AccuWeather, I'm Allie Reed.