The most unrealistic sight that travel enthusiasts, scientists, ordinary people, children, philosophers, and each and every person present out there would love to see at least once in their lives is the MilkyWay galaxy. The MilkyWay galaxy is our home, as it is a galaxy that doesn’t just consist of various celestial objects like stars, black holes, and dark matter, but it also embodies our beautiful solar system. Isn’t it amazing to see the galaxy you reside in, in front of you? It makes you feel how unimaginably big our cosmos is and how small we are in comparison to even the band of the Milky Way made of dust particles, let alone the universe.
The Milky Way galaxy is the most beautiful spiral galaxy made of dust particles, gases, and the most precious thing that is life. There are many questions about why it is called the Milky Way, the mythology behind its name and how to actually see it! In this blog, we will be addressing the last one.
If you want to know more about why the MilkyWay galaxy was named as such and a bit about its formation check out our blog on Milky Way’s Cosmic Spark: Shiva and Shakti
credits: NASA
Have you ever seen a galaxy through a telescope? Any other galaxy such as the Andromeda or the Sombrero when viewed through a telescope would appear similar to the one in the above image, with a bright galactic center and fuzzy arms around it. But why can we not get such a view of our own galaxy? That’s because we are living inside of it, in one of those spiral arms.
We see the Milky Way in the form of a band in the sky. In order to see our home galaxy as a whole we would need to go outside the galaxy, which unfortunately is beyond our current technological means. But don’t lose heart because the bands of the Milky Way are also a sight to behold!
When is the best time to see the MilkyWay galaxy?
The best time to experience the most beautiful, yet unrealistic, sight of the Milky Way galaxy is during the summer seasons. Since we reside in the Orion arm of the MilkyWay galaxy, which is between the Sagittarius arm and the Perseus arm as shown in the picture, as a result, we are able to see the band of the Milky Way galaxy and not the entire Milky Way.
Where to observe?
Some celestial objects like planets, and the famous Orion constellation and some bright stars are visible in the city but are most clear in places having the least pollution, like villages where there isn’t much exposure to pollution that is present in the city. Even in the busiest cities, like Mumbai, where it is impossible to even sit for a second, there are one of the best skies that every stargazer and astrophysicist would dream of. Some of those sites are Bhandardara, Mahuli, and many more.
Out of all the above-mentioned places Bhandardara has the most eye-catching skies without any pollution providing you a clear view for observing constellations and other celestial objects. Unlike any other site, it refreshes your morning with its chilly breeze accompanied by the warmth of the sun-rise. Mahuli on the other hand has a completely different atmosphere. Stargazing on mountains, in the middle of the ocean and with the northern lights so aesthetic but, what about stargazing amongst greens.
If you are interested in exploring stargazing then join us in our upcoming events!
Why is the MilkyWay galaxy more visible in the summer?
As our Earth revolves around the sun similarly, our solar system revolves in the Milky Way. During winter Earth is present at the outer arm and because of this, we are not able to see the band of the MilkyWay galaxy clearly, because it is faint, while the galactic centre has a greater number of stars and is the brightest.
In winters the most prominent constellation is the Orion and the MilkyWay appears to run through it. However, during summer our solar system makes a transition from the outer arm to the brightest part of our galaxy, that is, its center, known as the galactic center, is exactly overhead to us in the night sky, providing a clear view of the beautiful band. In summer the Milky Way galaxy is prominent through one of the constellations that contributes to the most famous summer triangle, which is Cygnus.
Where is the best place to observe the MilkyWay galaxy?
Credits: Fred Espenak
Stargazing in the city is perfect, but have you ever imagined how fun stargazing would be at high-altitude places? Stargazing at high altitudes is one of the most phenomenal experiences one can have, and it isn’t because of the chilly weather or the exquisite scenic views, but because of the minimal amount of light pollution giving you the best sky of all time. Ladakh and Spiti Valley are the finest locations for stargazing, with a brilliant view of the MilkyWay band.
If you want to know more about our phenomenal tours of stargazing at Spiti and stargazing at Ladakh click here.
How can we observe the MilkyWay Galaxy?
The Milky Way, unlike other celestial objects, requires a specific sky. You can observe the beautiful band of the Milky Way galaxy in places like Bhandardara, Mahuli, Igatpuri, etc., where the skies are clear without any sort of pollution. The Milky Way appears like a cloud to our eyes, as our eyes cannot capture the infrared light emitted by the Milky Way, but when you click its pictures, you’ll see the vibrant colors of the MilkyWay galaxy.
Astrophotography plays a crucial role when observing the MilkyWay galaxy, and through astrophotography, you can not only capture the striking colors of the MilkyWay galaxy but also many constellations. If you want to learn how to photograph the Milky Way, join our summer events!
Seeing your home brings you joy and makes you feel cozy. Then imagine how spectacular it would be to see a home that has existed for millions of years. Stargazing Mumbai brings this amazing opportunity to view the Milky Way in its season and experience the stunning band of the MilkyWay galaxy at our events taking place in Mumbai. Not just for Mumbaikars but also for travel enthusiasts who love traveling and are an astrophysicist at heart, the Astro-tour at Spiti is the perfect combination of stargazing while traveling.
Credits: Rajarshi Mitra
If you want to make your summers full of adventure and stargazing then join us for the Astro-tour at Spiti. The details of the events are provided on the website.
