A night stargazing in Michigan’s great outdoors this spring promises prime views of our galaxy once you get away from city lights.
“Milky Way season,” is underway, kicking off the time of year when our galaxy becomes visible to the naked eye in Michigan skies, USA TODAY reported. The season lasts from about February to October, with best viewing of the Milky Way’s “core” to begin in June, according to NASA and Capture the Atlas, a Milky Way photography website.
In Michigan, head to one of the state’s 10 dark sky areas to enjoy prime Milky Way views, weather permitting.
Here’s what to know about “Milky Way season.”
When is ‘Milky Way season’?
“Milky Way season,” when the galaxy’s bright center becomes easier to see from Earth, is from February to October, according to the Milky Way photography website Capture the Atlas.
Because visibility from Earth depends on the latitude, the farther south you go, the longer the Milky Way season lasts. 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.
In March, the Milky Way may be difficult to spot, but by June, the center of the Milky Way, “the core,” will be best visible, Preston Dyches wrote in June 2025 for NASA.
What times offer best Milky Way viewing?
The Milky Way is generally visible from sunset to sunrise, or when it’s darkest outside, according to Capture the Atlas. Typically, the sky is darkest from about midnight to 5 a.m. You can check sunrise and sunset times at your location using the website Time And Date.
Between February and June, the Milky Way is best seen in the early morning.
Where can you see the Milky Way in Michigan?
Weather permitting, head to a clear, dark area for best Milky Way viewing. Michigan is home to six dark sky state parks, three international dark sky parks and an international dark sky sanctuary.
What is the Milky Way?
The Milky Way is the galaxy in which our solar system exists. It’s a spiral galaxy that appears as a rotating disc curving out from a dense central region, according to the James Webb Space Telescope’s website. The galaxy features a disc of stars that spans more than 100,000 light years.
Our solar system is toward the edge of the galaxy, so when we look into the sky we see the collection of stars as a bright area across the night sky.
USA TODAY contributed.
Contact Jenna Prestininzi: jprestininzi@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Spotting the Milky Way? When the galaxy rises over Michigan
Reporting by Jenna Prestininzi and Eric Lagatta, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
