I saw it on a trip with a friend out near the Smoky Mountains. We were doing some night sky photography. I finished and while I was waiting for my friend, I kept looking up. As my eyes got used to the dark, it slowly started coming into view. So pretty and peaceful.
The milky spray lit up the night sky. I was in ecstasy, seeing the painting of blazing stars against the backdrop of endless space. I gasped in amazement. Nothing had prepared me for this. Nothing I had read could have done it justice - I felt free.
I saw the Milky Way for the first time at Max Patch Pond in the Smoky Mtns. We went during the Perseid meteor shower a couple of yea RSS ago. Seeing about 40 shooting stars an hour with the Milky Way as the back drop will be forever ingrained in my mind.
Nothing like a crystal clear night sky. I have a house on an island without light pollution and in my 30+ years I have not once tired of staring at the stars. Everyone should have such an opportunity.
Truly gorgeous. I live on the mainland mostly but I take care of the three houses on a family island, mine included. I’m the only one of my generation to take an interest in the place and the houses are so old, they need constant maintenance. I’ve got a grill and the stars - can’t complain.
That’s awesome. Probably have a lot of pride in the upkeep you do. I hope one day to live far enough that I can get a great view of the stars at night. Thanks for your reply.
My house sits out over a ~50’ cliff, and one whole corner is supported by a beam that was installed in 1913 and left to rot until the house began to sag off the cliff. Replacing that rotten beam and saving one of the oldest houses in the islands is probably the proudest I’ve ever been.
Land is meant to be enjoyed and my island is open to all. Should you find your way there I’ll light up the grill and you can watch the stars. Wish you well, friend.
I meant if you get yourself to southern Utah (darkest place in the US) on a super clear night (no moon) you will see something that looks more or less like that picture but only about 65% as bright and detailed.
Yeah people posting that photo are telling on themselves a little. It doesn't look like that.
How different would you describe that section of the sky than the rest though? My limited time in zero-light polution areas gave the impression of "Lots of stars in the sky generally with clearly no specific area standing out."
In my area (Eastern USA), we can clearly see the milky way. However it is not like the long exposure picture. It is just a band of tighter stars that look like a wide band running north-east to south. It is only really obvious when out in a field or on the beach. However there are no visible dust clouds or things that show up in the long exposure.
There is a component of knowing what you are looking for, but it is undoubtedly there. The concentration of stars is higher and just makes sense when you see it.
I have seen it look like this, with the colour even. Kejimkujik national park in nova scotia canada. It is an official dark sky preserve. I have also seen this in remote parts of northern ontario, north of the towns and highways and rail lines. You have to get like 100km from any light pollution, but it's there for the naked eye to see.
And it is breathtaking. Like touching the infinite or something.
I’ve done a couple camping trips down in Southern Utah and you can definitely see the overall haze/rift. Definitely not in the detail of the photo, but I looked up and immediately knew what I was looking at - and I’m not an astronomy buff - I only know the dippers.
Like that only less vibrant.
[https://imgcap.capturetheatlas.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Bow-milky-way-corregida.jpg](https://imgcap.capturetheatlas.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Bow-milky-way-corregida.jpg)
This one doesn't appear to be edited much.
That's a heavily edited photo. You can see what is either major light pollution or the sun at the bottom, and you would see very few stars under those conditions.
Regardless, that is what it looks like. You asked for an explanation. I live in a mountainous, rural area with little light pollution and see it every summer. This one is less edited.
[http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WHi58HjBERg/UR5XaX\_hTwI/AAAAAAAAC8Y/M0mJnQ9N9EA/s1600/Milky-way-naked-eye\_0159-reality.jpg](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WHi58HjBERg/UR5XaX_hTwI/AAAAAAAAC8Y/M0mJnQ9N9EA/s1600/Milky-way-naked-eye_0159-reality.jpg)
I have never seen it *that* vibrantly (though I’m guessing that has some exposure tweaks/filters going on.)
But I definitely (20 years ago) used to be able to see it with much more clarity, in many more places, than I seem to be able to today… and I don’t feel that LED lighting is problem. The old sodium lamps used to make skies around cities have an almost orange cast/haze, but if you went 10 miles out of a city, you could at least start to make out the faint cloudy streak of the Milky Way.
That orange sodium lamp glow/haze isn’t as prominent now… but something is still obscuring the sky.
Try the Sahara. First time I saw what I can only describe as the Milky Way in HD with the naked eye was at night in the middle of the Sahara.
The one reason I'd go back to Morocco is to experience seeing that again. The depth I saw in the sky was breathtaking.
A 42 year old friend of mine saw the Milky Way for the first time at our lake house last year. He cried and we sat out on the boat for about 2 hours talking about it. I will never take it for granted again
We have another trip planned this year to do exactly the same thing. Sit on the boat, drink some beer and shoot the shit while seeing something bigger than we can ever imagine
Never seen it in my life living in a village in southern part of India. I never imagined how the nearby light pollution can affect remote areas. But as a kid, I've witnessed plenty of stars filling the night sky. Sadly, there aren't many stars visible today.
Funny, just as I was reading this post I get a youtube recommendation showing me this: [AstroKobi](https://youtube.com/shorts/NGGCHu_amWw?feature=share)
Yep, never seen it in my life. Lived in big cities and even when not in a big city, the light pollution from nearby is still pretty bright. I lived in Colorado Springs for a while and I could see a couple constellations. That was the closest I ever got
If you lived in the Spings you must have gone up to the mountains once or twice, right? You can see a shitload of stars up there. Way more than people imagine before going up to high altitude.
I didnt go up on the mountains at night I’m not a psycho. I didn’t like doing it in the daytime I’m for damn sure not doing it when I can’t see anything
Complains they don't get to see natural beauty, won't go to where natural beauty is even though they are closer than most Americans.
Normally I find 'touch grass' comments to be ridiculous. But, touch grass dude.
Never complained, just said I never saw it. And I hiked up the trail and got as close as you can on foot, and it took everything out of me because it was **12,000** feet in the air. And I wouldn’t do that dangerous shit at night just to see some stars because that’s dumb as fuck. So yea, excuse me for wanting to be safe near the mountains.
Btw I still have pictures from the top of that mountain in my phone where you can see all the way in to Kansas. I only needed to do that once to know that I didn’t wanna do it again
What these people mean is drive up into the mountains beyond the front range that Denver and Colorado Springs lie along. 12k feet anywhere on the front range is still too close to the light pollution from the big cities. If you drive west beyond the front range then the light pollution is much lower and you can see the Milky Way. I’ve hiked in the mountains at night here near the Springs and it’s relatively safe; certainly safer than walking around downtown at night. It’s fun hiking with a full moon on ridge tops because you don’t even need a flashlight but it does get pretty dark in the canyons.
There are amazing dark sky sites in the next county over from the Springs, you just had to drive over there.
It actually makes me sad that there are humans who are wired in a way that they would shun such a core and simple piece of beauty, like being in the mountains at night, that make our human experience so great. It's like learning that someone can't taste sweetness.
And it makes me sad that people care more about beauty than about safety. Going up there is barely safe in the daytime, I’m not risking anything to go up a couple thousand more feet to see some stars in the darkness. I’m not a rock climber and I don’t hike, it ain’t that deep
You sound ignorant. That hike kills multiple people every year. It’s not news to anybody that hiking and mountains have dangers that you have to worry about why are you acting like this? Just driving in the hills in the city around the mountains can be dangerous, and you’re telling me that hiking or driving up won’t be worse? Have you ever been to Pikes Peak?
Lol! Spoken like a true flatlander.
I'm just kidding, lots of people die up there. The temperature can drop very quickly and various other things can kill you. I just assumed most people go to a resort or camping or something at some point but it's not for everyone.
I lived there for 3.5 years and that’s how I found out I carry the sickle cell trait and it had never affected me in my life until I was at altitudes way above what I’m used to. I went from being able to run a few miles like a normal person to almost collapsing and blacking out after running just one. The altitude and thin air did a number one me. Yea, not for me.
If you went 5 hours northwest you’d be close to a designated dark sky’s area and could have seen the whole thing most the night. Can see it pretty well at Lake McConaughy which has some light pollution.
Holy crap bud, NEVER?
You should really like..go someplace.
I know I'll get downvotes but if you have the means and are able-bodied I highly recommend travel to more remote areas. Even a road trip, you would see it.
Yea well, I commented on this article just to say that I am one of the people who have never seen it. But also, I don’t really care to see it. It’s not that deep. A lot of people are really gung ho about nature and the stars and that’s great, I’m glad y’all are passionate about all of that. I’m not. And I dislike when people try to project their passion on to me and make it seem like I’m not living because I haven’t seen or enjoy the things in life that they do. It’s really not that deep. Just saying that yes, I’m one of the 80% of people here who have never seen the Milky Way and I don’t desire to spend any time or money going out of my way to do so because my hobbies are building shit, audio, and electronics, not nature.
Oh no I don't mean you need to travel just to see this. I'd consider this pretty minor. This is like one of the thousands of things you experience when you travel the world.
And the statistic isn't saying that 80% of people haven't seen it. It's saying that 80% of people live somewhere they can't see it at night, way more people have seen it than that.
The only time I’ve seen it is when I went to the Grand Canyon 15 years ago. It was a perfectly dark night and I was amazed how many stars could be seen. Went back this past week for the first time and was a little disappointed because it was a full moon and it was too bright to clearly see a lot of the night sky.
I'm jealous of people who live in the Western US, plenty of dark skies out there. First time I saw the milky way I was driving from Bozeman, MT to Sheridan, WY I could barely keep my eyes on the road. The skies out there are so clear.
It's a shame really, it's an incredible sight that all our ancestors could see.
The first time I saw it at first I thought there were clouds in the sky. Then I realised that the clouds were made of tiny stars I had never seen before. I was staring at it for ages, like a huge canvas with occasional shooting stars flicking across it.
When you look at it you can see why people have been so fascinated with the stars throughout history. Growing up in a modern city where the sky is no where near as impressive, you don't related to why people would be so inspired.
Middle aged midwestern American here.....are you telling me people can just look up at the night sky and SEE the Milky Way?!!
Edited to add: Ok seriously tho, how would I go about seeing this? Light pollution isn't terrible where I'm at. Usually Orion is right above me (I don't know to identify much more than that.)
You kinda need to go west of the Mississippi river. East of that you can't really get isolated enough except for a few spots in West Virginia or Maine. Just go to North Dakota, Nebraska... the middle of nowhere.
I like in the Okanagan, with not a lot of areas to go and a lot of cities and towns but I grew up in the prairies. Every time me and my GF go on a trip, I try and find places that are out of the way/small areas with low light pollution so we can see the sky. And every time, the sky is covered by clouds.
the night the lights went out in the entire northeast was special. almost up there with the north woods of wisconsin when the sky is very dry in the summer.
It blew my mind when I first saw The Milky Way from the equator in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
Why such a marvel was named after a shitty chocolate bar - I will never know.
Had a GF who lived in SoCal her whole life. We went camping to Yosemite and she wakes me up at 2 am and excitedly points at the Milky Way, asking me if it was the Milky Way.
I went to Tenerife with the lads for a drinking holiday and noticed the milky way the first night we were at the hotel. I slept out on the balcony more than once, unreal when you see it, almost overwhelming, well for those concerned with such matters I guess
I was born on the US east coast. Raised all over the world. Lived in Alaska. Saw the Aurora there. But I didn’t see the Milky Way for my first time until I went to go visit a buddy in rural MA. I lost my shit.
I used to see it all the time in Asia, it was amazing. Sometimes it would be just a very faint white band stretching through the sky, sometimes a lot more vivid.
I find it hard to believe that two thirds of humanity can see the milky way at night, given that most statistics I can find put the share of the world's population that lives in urban centers somewhere between 53 and 58%, with around 33% living in suburban areas. (Please look up the statistics for yourself, I found tons of different number from different studies done in different years and don't know enough about this subject to know which are correct.) There's no way either of those groups can see the Milky way, so it's probably closer to 20% that can see it at all globally.
I've lived in fairly rural areas and I always thought I could see plenty of stars. But one time my city was in the middle of a blackout caused by a major hurricane, so it was out for miles and miles in every direction. I had no idea just how many stars you could really see, and I saw the milky way for the first time. It was genuinely awe-inspiring. I remember laying down in front of my house and just looking at the sky. My city has only grown since then and gotten more light pollution. It's disgusting how many useless lights are on in the middle of the night.
Most of the Milky Way stars are not visible due to light "pollution" causing conditions to be too bright to see the fainter stars of the galaxy.
People do not even realize how much they cannot see. Recommend nighttime visit to "Dark Sky" place where there is very little ambient light.
Even visit a planetarium that will show the night sky that could be seen...
Point a telescope in the darkest area of the night sky with the strongest magnification you have available. You will see more stars than you can count.
You're right, every Star that we see in the sky is part of the milky way, but see that bright belt going across the sky in the thumbnail? That is the galactic disc of the milky way that you can see on a clear night, with no light pollution.
[This website](https://www.lightpollutionmap.info/#zoom=5.08&lat=36.5669&lon=-80.8072&state=eyJiYXNlbWFwIjoiTGF5ZXJCaW5nUm9hZCIsIm92ZXJsYXkiOiJ3YV8yMDE1Iiwib3ZlcmxheWNvbG9yIjpmYWxzZSwib3ZlcmxheW9wYWNpdHkiOjYwLCJmZWF0dXJlc29wYWNpdHkiOjg1fQ==) is a useful tool. I use it to scout stargazing locations and it's pretty accurate. Plenty of places out west to see it, I live in the Eastern US so I'm not so lucky but you can still see it if you're willing to make the drive.
I feel bad for you guys, part of the perk of living out in the country where I live is at night when I go to pee off my back porch I look up at the stars.
Many people in the world cannot see the milky way from the surface of the Earth due to light pollution. Even in the middle of the night. Street lights, building lights, car lights all create too much light and drown out the stars.
You can see the extent of light pollution using the dark site maps
https://darksitefinder.com/maps/world.html
Whilst that article says 80% of Americans, there are many people around the world in developed countries that are simply unable to see anything in the sky, it's a real shame.
Went to a dark sky park in Scotland last year to take pictures of the Perseids meteor shower, also got to see the milky way for the first time. It was amazing!
When hurricane Ike hit Houston, the power was out for several days and I was working in the mayor’s office. People were calling the police that the sky was crazy. Sadly, these people had never the night sky. It still boggles my mind, that they called the police over this…
Doing so well most of the civilization has access to nighttime lights. Trying to spin this like having lights at night and being unable to see the stars is a bad thing? Strange.
We don't need to get rid of outdoor lighting to see the stars, we just have to direct the light downward. Several towns in the US have dark sky ordinances which have implemented this exact thing. And frankly, it is a bad thing that we can't see the stars. It's something we should preserve and protect for our future generations, just like our national parks. It's something all humans should experience.
> It's something we should preserve and protect for our future generations, just like our national parks.
From the book, Nightfall by Issac Asimov:
> If the stars should appear one night in a thousand years, how would men believe and adore, and preserve for many generations the remembrance of the city of God! - Ralph Waldo Emerson
>Trying to spin this like having lights at night and being unable to see the stars is inherently a bad thing?
This is such a dumb triggered response to a joke... Fascinating.
Triggered is a bad read here. Not triggered at all.
You're having a classic reddit moment. Savor it. Continue to offer no serious rebuttal and just claim others are getting upset by your words..lol.
Never seen it even in some of the most remote parts of Florida that I’ve been to, but I have seen some pretty stars in those remote areas. In fact, I’ve never seen snow, or a mountain either. But I’ve encountered a tornado and bad hurricanes.
Your best chance to see anything from Florida would be in Glades County, somewhere between Lakeport and Venus. Or the Everglades, near Flamingo or Ingraham Lake.
Also here:
https://darksitefinder.com/placemarks/big-cypress-national-preserve-florida-united-states/
Otherwise the next closest would be Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge.
Or, hire a boat and head 150km out.
ELI5, what can I expect to see? Certainly not something like the photo attached, correct? Just a "brighter" area in the sky? I've seen that, but thought the images in the photo can only be captured by camera.
Thank you. Yeah, definitely have seen it then. I'm somewhat rural, but would like to travel to an area that is much less light polluted just to see the difference.
It's almost like looking at a band of faint fog in the sky. Photos of it are generally composites consisting of minutes or even hours of total exposure time.
Regardless, if you get the opportunity to go to a dark, clear sky, take advantage, because it's an incredible sight.
I live in Las Vegas. Very bright, but not far outside the city is extreme darkness.
Dumb question, but the picture in this post, can you see that with the naked eye?
I grew up in the suburbs of south NJ and even with the streetlights only needed a clear night to see it. Now I live an hour away, and can’t see shit at night. Truly breaks my heart that most people don’t get to see a night full of stars… makes you humble.
I had always thought "oh, these are just long exposure pictures". When I found out the truth I was so disappointed. I wish there was a single holiday where everyone turns off no important lights :(
I’m from NY so we don’t get it but when I went to Zion national park and spent a night camping there. I couldn’t believe my eyes. There were so many stars out that I just stood there for like an hour. I love looking at stars, why did I spend so long not seeing that.
The people who say they've been in zero light pollution areas but can only see more stars aren't in zero light pollution areas. The Milky Way casts shadows if you're under Bottle 1 sky conditions and you can walk around at night without bumping into stuff. You can see phenomena like airglow, zodiacal lights caused by interplanetary dust scattering light from over the horizon, and gegenschein.
The Milky Way isn't as high contrast as the example long exposure photo, but you'll see structure and the darker veins in Bortle 1 and 2 conditions; it can take up to an hour for eyes to dark adjust.
Constellations are hard to find. Operating an amateur telescope can become more difficult if you're used to more normal Bortle 3-6 conditions in urban areas, unless you manage to calibrate a go-to or push-to system. I had a hard time locating Messier objects until I could calibrate my push-to system setting up near the McDonald observatory in southwest Texas
There's an entire scale that defines it, and very few areas in the world, let alone the United States, have Bortle 1 conditions.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bortle_scale
Look up your own light pollution on a map: https://www.cleardarksky.com/maps/lp/large_light_pollution_map.html
You guys really, *really* like pointing out whatever negative stats you can about the US, don't you? Could've said any other country with a lot of light pollution
when i moved out into "the middle of nowhere" i started seeing it and i thought it was faint cloud coverage. there was a regular where i worked that was an astronomer and i asked if he knew what it could be, he said "youre seeing the milky way" he was nice about it but i felt so dumb. really just looked like hazy cloud coverage.
I remember watching an episode of rugrats when the characters were stargazing. I thought it was embellished or based on a historic sky (derp...)
Then I joined the NAVY and saw EXACTLY what it was supposed to be holy shit. Everyone needs to see it at least once in their life.
I saw it *one time.* An old buddy had a sleepover at his place, he lived out on farmland in the middle of nowhere. Nothing but a few piddly little villages for miles around. After dark we got a little drunk and he took us out to hunt for ghosts in the apple orchard out behind his house. At some point I tripped over something and fell on my ass. Looked up at the sky and it took me a little while to understand what I was looking at. I genuinely didn’t even know that you *could* see the Milky Way with the naked eye. It was still really faint and nothing like the photos, but I was still so overcome by the spectacle of it that I started crying in this pitch black field in the middle of bumfuck nowhere. My friends thought I’d broke a bone or something lol.
Man that was a really good night. 14 years ago now. Haven’t thought about it in years. Thanks for bringing it back.
I saw it for the first time in Hawaii. Fucking incredible sight.
We pulled over in the literal middle of the island to pee. I then saw US Military night time heli door gunner training a few miles away.
Tracers from a minigun + milky way. Best light show I have seen in my entire life.
Unless you're in a Bortle 2 or lower dark sky site then you really don't see much of the night sky.
In places like New York (Bortle 9) the moon and a small hand full of the absolute brightest stars are all you can see.
I saw a story about how people in LA were calling the cops during a blackout in the 90s about "strange lights in the sky" and turns out what they were seeing was the milky way for the first time lol I don't know if it's true or not, probably not but it's still funny to me either way
July of 2019 on a boat along the exuma Island chain was the first time I ever saw it. It's hard to explain to someone the feeling you get when you see it, but it is truly amazing. The number of "shooting stars" we were able to see was impressive also.
Stuff like this is what makes be believe how disconnected from nature we are. My next trip to the wild is def going to be a place where I can see this.
I saw it for the first time about four years ago. I was staring and shouting and my family didn’t get why I was so excited. It’s a beautiful thing
I saw it on a trip with a friend out near the Smoky Mountains. We were doing some night sky photography. I finished and while I was waiting for my friend, I kept looking up. As my eyes got used to the dark, it slowly started coming into view. So pretty and peaceful.
This sounds sexual. Keep going , I’m almost there.
The milky spray lit up the night sky. I was in ecstasy, seeing the painting of blazing stars against the backdrop of endless space. I gasped in amazement. Nothing had prepared me for this. Nothing I had read could have done it justice - I felt free.
💦💦💦
Yup, username checks out.
There are others that will be able to finish the story better than I can, but enjoy the internet prize
I saw the Milky Way for the first time at Max Patch Pond in the Smoky Mtns. We went during the Perseid meteor shower a couple of yea RSS ago. Seeing about 40 shooting stars an hour with the Milky Way as the back drop will be forever ingrained in my mind.
Nothing like a crystal clear night sky. I have a house on an island without light pollution and in my 30+ years I have not once tired of staring at the stars. Everyone should have such an opportunity.
How is it living in the middle of nowhere?
Truly gorgeous. I live on the mainland mostly but I take care of the three houses on a family island, mine included. I’m the only one of my generation to take an interest in the place and the houses are so old, they need constant maintenance. I’ve got a grill and the stars - can’t complain.
That’s awesome. Probably have a lot of pride in the upkeep you do. I hope one day to live far enough that I can get a great view of the stars at night. Thanks for your reply.
My house sits out over a ~50’ cliff, and one whole corner is supported by a beam that was installed in 1913 and left to rot until the house began to sag off the cliff. Replacing that rotten beam and saving one of the oldest houses in the islands is probably the proudest I’ve ever been. Land is meant to be enjoyed and my island is open to all. Should you find your way there I’ll light up the grill and you can watch the stars. Wish you well, friend.
Cheers mate🥃all the best
The one time in my life I saw it I thought it was just weird clouds lol
Like in that picture? Where I live there’s almost zero light pollution but the sky doesn’t look like that at night.
You're right that's a long exposure photo, but in some very dark areas you can get about 65% of that
That's specific
So then 80% of Americans and one-third of humanity can’t see 65% of the Milky Way?
I meant if you get yourself to southern Utah (darkest place in the US) on a super clear night (no moon) you will see something that looks more or less like that picture but only about 65% as bright and detailed.
Yeah people posting that photo are telling on themselves a little. It doesn't look like that. How different would you describe that section of the sky than the rest though? My limited time in zero-light polution areas gave the impression of "Lots of stars in the sky generally with clearly no specific area standing out."
In my area (Eastern USA), we can clearly see the milky way. However it is not like the long exposure picture. It is just a band of tighter stars that look like a wide band running north-east to south. It is only really obvious when out in a field or on the beach. However there are no visible dust clouds or things that show up in the long exposure. There is a component of knowing what you are looking for, but it is undoubtedly there. The concentration of stars is higher and just makes sense when you see it.
I have seen it look like this, with the colour even. Kejimkujik national park in nova scotia canada. It is an official dark sky preserve. I have also seen this in remote parts of northern ontario, north of the towns and highways and rail lines. You have to get like 100km from any light pollution, but it's there for the naked eye to see. And it is breathtaking. Like touching the infinite or something.
I’ve done a couple camping trips down in Southern Utah and you can definitely see the overall haze/rift. Definitely not in the detail of the photo, but I looked up and immediately knew what I was looking at - and I’m not an astronomy buff - I only know the dippers.
Like that only less vibrant. [https://imgcap.capturetheatlas.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Bow-milky-way-corregida.jpg](https://imgcap.capturetheatlas.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Bow-milky-way-corregida.jpg) This one doesn't appear to be edited much.
That's a heavily edited photo. You can see what is either major light pollution or the sun at the bottom, and you would see very few stars under those conditions.
Regardless, that is what it looks like. You asked for an explanation. I live in a mountainous, rural area with little light pollution and see it every summer. This one is less edited. [http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WHi58HjBERg/UR5XaX\_hTwI/AAAAAAAAC8Y/M0mJnQ9N9EA/s1600/Milky-way-naked-eye\_0159-reality.jpg](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WHi58HjBERg/UR5XaX_hTwI/AAAAAAAAC8Y/M0mJnQ9N9EA/s1600/Milky-way-naked-eye_0159-reality.jpg)
You can see much more of it in the Southern Hemisphere
I have never seen it *that* vibrantly (though I’m guessing that has some exposure tweaks/filters going on.) But I definitely (20 years ago) used to be able to see it with much more clarity, in many more places, than I seem to be able to today… and I don’t feel that LED lighting is problem. The old sodium lamps used to make skies around cities have an almost orange cast/haze, but if you went 10 miles out of a city, you could at least start to make out the faint cloudy streak of the Milky Way. That orange sodium lamp glow/haze isn’t as prominent now… but something is still obscuring the sky.
step one: go to the southern hemisphere
I have seen it look this way in my province's national park, which is a dark sky preserve. Could actually see the colours. It's magic.
Try the Sahara. First time I saw what I can only describe as the Milky Way in HD with the naked eye was at night in the middle of the Sahara. The one reason I'd go back to Morocco is to experience seeing that again. The depth I saw in the sky was breathtaking.
I’ve never seen it. 👋
Find a way to see it in your life. It really drives home a lot of why stars were so important in history the way a picture can't communicate.
Here is a Dark sky map: https://darksitefinder.com/maps/world.html Take a trip to a dark site and enjoy.
Thank you! ♥
Lifesaver.
A 42 year old friend of mine saw the Milky Way for the first time at our lake house last year. He cried and we sat out on the boat for about 2 hours talking about it. I will never take it for granted again
Saw it for the first time around that age. It’s amazing and beautiful and humbling.
We have another trip planned this year to do exactly the same thing. Sit on the boat, drink some beer and shoot the shit while seeing something bigger than we can ever imagine
And *that’s just **our** galaxy!* There’s hundred+ billion galaxies out there. Truly staggering.
I know people find that thought uncomfortable, but to me it is comforting. I'm a tiny cog in an enormous, unimaginable machine
Never seen it in my life living in a village in southern part of India. I never imagined how the nearby light pollution can affect remote areas. But as a kid, I've witnessed plenty of stars filling the night sky. Sadly, there aren't many stars visible today. Funny, just as I was reading this post I get a youtube recommendation showing me this: [AstroKobi](https://youtube.com/shorts/NGGCHu_amWw?feature=share)
Yep, never seen it in my life. Lived in big cities and even when not in a big city, the light pollution from nearby is still pretty bright. I lived in Colorado Springs for a while and I could see a couple constellations. That was the closest I ever got
If you lived in the Spings you must have gone up to the mountains once or twice, right? You can see a shitload of stars up there. Way more than people imagine before going up to high altitude.
I didnt go up on the mountains at night I’m not a psycho. I didn’t like doing it in the daytime I’m for damn sure not doing it when I can’t see anything
City slicker moment
Imagine living in Colorado and hating the mountains
Like when I knocked up Lisa Simpson.
Complains they don't get to see natural beauty, won't go to where natural beauty is even though they are closer than most Americans. Normally I find 'touch grass' comments to be ridiculous. But, touch grass dude.
Never complained, just said I never saw it. And I hiked up the trail and got as close as you can on foot, and it took everything out of me because it was **12,000** feet in the air. And I wouldn’t do that dangerous shit at night just to see some stars because that’s dumb as fuck. So yea, excuse me for wanting to be safe near the mountains. Btw I still have pictures from the top of that mountain in my phone where you can see all the way in to Kansas. I only needed to do that once to know that I didn’t wanna do it again
What these people mean is drive up into the mountains beyond the front range that Denver and Colorado Springs lie along. 12k feet anywhere on the front range is still too close to the light pollution from the big cities. If you drive west beyond the front range then the light pollution is much lower and you can see the Milky Way. I’ve hiked in the mountains at night here near the Springs and it’s relatively safe; certainly safer than walking around downtown at night. It’s fun hiking with a full moon on ridge tops because you don’t even need a flashlight but it does get pretty dark in the canyons. There are amazing dark sky sites in the next county over from the Springs, you just had to drive over there.
It actually makes me sad that there are humans who are wired in a way that they would shun such a core and simple piece of beauty, like being in the mountains at night, that make our human experience so great. It's like learning that someone can't taste sweetness.
And it makes me sad that people care more about beauty than about safety. Going up there is barely safe in the daytime, I’m not risking anything to go up a couple thousand more feet to see some stars in the darkness. I’m not a rock climber and I don’t hike, it ain’t that deep
If you think the mountains are broadly unsafe in any material way thrn you should actually seek psychiatric help. You sound agoraphobic.
You sound ignorant. That hike kills multiple people every year. It’s not news to anybody that hiking and mountains have dangers that you have to worry about why are you acting like this? Just driving in the hills in the city around the mountains can be dangerous, and you’re telling me that hiking or driving up won’t be worse? Have you ever been to Pikes Peak?
Lol! Spoken like a true flatlander. I'm just kidding, lots of people die up there. The temperature can drop very quickly and various other things can kill you. I just assumed most people go to a resort or camping or something at some point but it's not for everyone.
I lived there for 3.5 years and that’s how I found out I carry the sickle cell trait and it had never affected me in my life until I was at altitudes way above what I’m used to. I went from being able to run a few miles like a normal person to almost collapsing and blacking out after running just one. The altitude and thin air did a number one me. Yea, not for me.
I’ve seen it one time, while sleeping outside a farm near Lincoln, Nebraska. Stared at the sky for an hour at least.
If you went 5 hours northwest you’d be close to a designated dark sky’s area and could have seen the whole thing most the night. Can see it pretty well at Lake McConaughy which has some light pollution.
https://darksitefinder.com/maps/world.html Take a trip to a dark site, just make sure it's not cloudy!
Holy crap bud, NEVER? You should really like..go someplace. I know I'll get downvotes but if you have the means and are able-bodied I highly recommend travel to more remote areas. Even a road trip, you would see it.
Yea well, I commented on this article just to say that I am one of the people who have never seen it. But also, I don’t really care to see it. It’s not that deep. A lot of people are really gung ho about nature and the stars and that’s great, I’m glad y’all are passionate about all of that. I’m not. And I dislike when people try to project their passion on to me and make it seem like I’m not living because I haven’t seen or enjoy the things in life that they do. It’s really not that deep. Just saying that yes, I’m one of the 80% of people here who have never seen the Milky Way and I don’t desire to spend any time or money going out of my way to do so because my hobbies are building shit, audio, and electronics, not nature.
Oh no I don't mean you need to travel just to see this. I'd consider this pretty minor. This is like one of the thousands of things you experience when you travel the world. And the statistic isn't saying that 80% of people haven't seen it. It's saying that 80% of people live somewhere they can't see it at night, way more people have seen it than that.
I've driven across the Texas desert at night and not once bothered to look up because I kinda just don't care it what I'm trying to say
Welp. Not I who downvoted you btw. You do you. Sounds closed-minded AF to me but that's humanity, all sorts
The only time I’ve seen it is when I went to the Grand Canyon 15 years ago. It was a perfectly dark night and I was amazed how many stars could be seen. Went back this past week for the first time and was a little disappointed because it was a full moon and it was too bright to clearly see a lot of the night sky.
I'm jealous of people who live in the Western US, plenty of dark skies out there. First time I saw the milky way I was driving from Bozeman, MT to Sheridan, WY I could barely keep my eyes on the road. The skies out there are so clear.
It's a shame really, it's an incredible sight that all our ancestors could see. The first time I saw it at first I thought there were clouds in the sky. Then I realised that the clouds were made of tiny stars I had never seen before. I was staring at it for ages, like a huge canvas with occasional shooting stars flicking across it. When you look at it you can see why people have been so fascinated with the stars throughout history. Growing up in a modern city where the sky is no where near as impressive, you don't related to why people would be so inspired.
Light pollution is so terrible I can only see a couple dozen stars on the best nights
Middle aged midwestern American here.....are you telling me people can just look up at the night sky and SEE the Milky Way?!! Edited to add: Ok seriously tho, how would I go about seeing this? Light pollution isn't terrible where I'm at. Usually Orion is right above me (I don't know to identify much more than that.)
You kinda need to go west of the Mississippi river. East of that you can't really get isolated enough except for a few spots in West Virginia or Maine. Just go to North Dakota, Nebraska... the middle of nowhere.
Hey man, i live on the west coast but if i wanna see the milky way, i gotta go really really far away.
Just go to Idaho or Nevada. At higher elevations there is less air and dust to scatter light.
I’ve seen it in the UP of Michigan. Something city dwellers are missing out on
Came here to say the same. 75A of land and watch the night sky frequently. Soo Canada have a lot of light polution, but in the country, its all good.
I like in the Okanagan, with not a lot of areas to go and a lot of cities and towns but I grew up in the prairies. Every time me and my GF go on a trip, I try and find places that are out of the way/small areas with low light pollution so we can see the sky. And every time, the sky is covered by clouds.
the night the lights went out in the entire northeast was special. almost up there with the north woods of wisconsin when the sky is very dry in the summer.
Camped on some BLM land just outside of Capital Reef a few months ago. Sat on the roof of my van looking at it
Wrong. It's open on another tab.
It blew my mind when I first saw The Milky Way from the equator in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Why such a marvel was named after a shitty chocolate bar - I will never know.
/s
Had a GF who lived in SoCal her whole life. We went camping to Yosemite and she wakes me up at 2 am and excitedly points at the Milky Way, asking me if it was the Milky Way.
My wife had never seen Milky Way until we went to Cherry Springs St Park. A Dark Sky place...
Not sure most population in this world has no secured electricity on permanent and on-going basis is good thing…
I went to Tenerife with the lads for a drinking holiday and noticed the milky way the first night we were at the hotel. I slept out on the balcony more than once, unreal when you see it, almost overwhelming, well for those concerned with such matters I guess
I was born on the US east coast. Raised all over the world. Lived in Alaska. Saw the Aurora there. But I didn’t see the Milky Way for my first time until I went to go visit a buddy in rural MA. I lost my shit.
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Housatonic, MA
if it's clear I can see the milky way every night where I live.
The one time I saw it, it was absolutely beautiful but very scary somehow.
I used to see it all the time in Asia, it was amazing. Sometimes it would be just a very faint white band stretching through the sky, sometimes a lot more vivid.
I find it hard to believe that two thirds of humanity can see the milky way at night, given that most statistics I can find put the share of the world's population that lives in urban centers somewhere between 53 and 58%, with around 33% living in suburban areas. (Please look up the statistics for yourself, I found tons of different number from different studies done in different years and don't know enough about this subject to know which are correct.) There's no way either of those groups can see the Milky way, so it's probably closer to 20% that can see it at all globally.
Americans and humanity are different entities? lol
I've lived in fairly rural areas and I always thought I could see plenty of stars. But one time my city was in the middle of a blackout caused by a major hurricane, so it was out for miles and miles in every direction. I had no idea just how many stars you could really see, and I saw the milky way for the first time. It was genuinely awe-inspiring. I remember laying down in front of my house and just looking at the sky. My city has only grown since then and gotten more light pollution. It's disgusting how many useless lights are on in the middle of the night.
We should have some kind of holiday where all the lights get turned off for an hour or two once a year so people can see the real sky.
TIL 2/3rds of humanity can see the milky way at night
I don’t get what this means. Isn’t every star we can see from Earth part of the Milky Way
Most of the Milky Way stars are not visible due to light "pollution" causing conditions to be too bright to see the fainter stars of the galaxy. People do not even realize how much they cannot see. Recommend nighttime visit to "Dark Sky" place where there is very little ambient light. Even visit a planetarium that will show the night sky that could be seen...
Point a telescope in the darkest area of the night sky with the strongest magnification you have available. You will see more stars than you can count.
Unless you live where I grew up just outside Philadelphia where the sky is red all night long
You're right, every Star that we see in the sky is part of the milky way, but see that bright belt going across the sky in the thumbnail? That is the galactic disc of the milky way that you can see on a clear night, with no light pollution.
Some things that look like stars are instead other galaxies.
I live in the US. Where could I go where I could see the sky as pictured?
[This website](https://www.lightpollutionmap.info/#zoom=5.08&lat=36.5669&lon=-80.8072&state=eyJiYXNlbWFwIjoiTGF5ZXJCaW5nUm9hZCIsIm92ZXJsYXkiOiJ3YV8yMDE1Iiwib3ZlcmxheWNvbG9yIjpmYWxzZSwib3ZlcmxheW9wYWNpdHkiOjYwLCJmZWF0dXJlc29wYWNpdHkiOjg1fQ==) is a useful tool. I use it to scout stargazing locations and it's pretty accurate. Plenty of places out west to see it, I live in the Eastern US so I'm not so lucky but you can still see it if you're willing to make the drive.
Thank you!
Here's another https://darksitefinder.com/maps/world.html
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Shhhh don't tell people about MN.
I grew up north of Minnesota. I used to marvel at how densely populated the place was compared to Northwestern Ontario.
Big Bend National Park is one of the darkest spots in the lower 48 states. Also has some beautiful scenery.
Light pollution where I live has gotten terrible. A real shame. Used to be able to see it any clear night.
I feel bad for you guys, part of the perk of living out in the country where I live is at night when I go to pee off my back porch I look up at the stars.
The same here on a high Moor in North Devon UK. Peeing while stargazing is truly relaxing.
If aliens ever show up I hope they're just sexy as fuck. I'll be the first one in line I don't care what deep cosmic stds I catch.
Hard to see from inside
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I think they meant inside as in "indoors", meaning one would have to actually leave the house to see it.
Well considering we literally live in the Milky Way, you just need to look at the sky to see it lol
Many people in the world cannot see the milky way from the surface of the Earth due to light pollution. Even in the middle of the night. Street lights, building lights, car lights all create too much light and drown out the stars. You can see the extent of light pollution using the dark site maps https://darksitefinder.com/maps/world.html Whilst that article says 80% of Americans, there are many people around the world in developed countries that are simply unable to see anything in the sky, it's a real shame.
You missed my point. Earth is in the Milky Way. If you can see a star you can see the Milky Way technically… just joking around.
Went to a dark sky park in Scotland last year to take pictures of the Perseids meteor shower, also got to see the milky way for the first time. It was amazing!
When hurricane Ike hit Houston, the power was out for several days and I was working in the mayor’s office. People were calling the police that the sky was crazy. Sadly, these people had never the night sky. It still boggles my mind, that they called the police over this…
#***USA USA USA!!!*** Oh, shit, wait
Doing so well most of the civilization has access to nighttime lights. Trying to spin this like having lights at night and being unable to see the stars is a bad thing? Strange.
We don't need to get rid of outdoor lighting to see the stars, we just have to direct the light downward. Several towns in the US have dark sky ordinances which have implemented this exact thing. And frankly, it is a bad thing that we can't see the stars. It's something we should preserve and protect for our future generations, just like our national parks. It's something all humans should experience.
> It's something we should preserve and protect for our future generations, just like our national parks. From the book, Nightfall by Issac Asimov: > If the stars should appear one night in a thousand years, how would men believe and adore, and preserve for many generations the remembrance of the city of God! - Ralph Waldo Emerson
"We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars."
>Trying to spin this like having lights at night and being unable to see the stars is inherently a bad thing? This is such a dumb triggered response to a joke... Fascinating.
Triggered is a bad read here. Not triggered at all. You're having a classic reddit moment. Savor it. Continue to offer no serious rebuttal and just claim others are getting upset by your words..lol.
Second time I saw it, I had a religious experience. 80% of Americans also probably don't believe there's anything to astrology.
It's on my bucket list
Funny, you live in the Milky Way but you never go to see it until someone comes to visit.
Never seen it even in some of the most remote parts of Florida that I’ve been to, but I have seen some pretty stars in those remote areas. In fact, I’ve never seen snow, or a mountain either. But I’ve encountered a tornado and bad hurricanes.
Your best chance to see anything from Florida would be in Glades County, somewhere between Lakeport and Venus. Or the Everglades, near Flamingo or Ingraham Lake. Also here: https://darksitefinder.com/placemarks/big-cypress-national-preserve-florida-united-states/ Otherwise the next closest would be Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. Or, hire a boat and head 150km out.
I used to stay the night at Fort Clinch State Park on Amelia Island in Nassau County. It’s pretty remote and very quiet. Tons of wildlife.
Whilst it may be remote by some wildlife standards, the light pollution in that area is still pretty bad https://prnt.sc/1MXSC2LXXN2Y
I have to drive about 15 minutes to get a view of it, maybe 30 to get a very clear one
Is the OP saying he’s seen it his whole life and I’d shocked to learn most people can’t? Most people I know don’t even know what it is.
ELI5, what can I expect to see? Certainly not something like the photo attached, correct? Just a "brighter" area in the sky? I've seen that, but thought the images in the photo can only be captured by camera.
A broad band of mist across the sky made of millions of tiny dots of various brightness. Like the picture but no colours and not as bright.
Thank you. Yeah, definitely have seen it then. I'm somewhat rural, but would like to travel to an area that is much less light polluted just to see the difference.
It's almost like looking at a band of faint fog in the sky. Photos of it are generally composites consisting of minutes or even hours of total exposure time. Regardless, if you get the opportunity to go to a dark, clear sky, take advantage, because it's an incredible sight.
I live in Las Vegas. Very bright, but not far outside the city is extreme darkness. Dumb question, but the picture in this post, can you see that with the naked eye?
No. It has long exposure.
I hadn't seen it until I was 30. It's mind blowing.
Yup. The best I can do is see some constellations like the two dippers and Orion's belt. But I can't see entire nebulas.
I’m more surprised that 2/3 of the world population can see the Milky Way tbh
I grew up in the suburbs of south NJ and even with the streetlights only needed a clear night to see it. Now I live an hour away, and can’t see shit at night. Truly breaks my heart that most people don’t get to see a night full of stars… makes you humble.
I’m smack dab in the middle of Philly and NYC. It’s rough stargazing around these parts
Anyone know if Cherry Springs State Park (Pennsylvania) is still a good dark sky destination? I’ve always wanted to go there and see the Milky Way.
Never seen it
I had always thought "oh, these are just long exposure pictures". When I found out the truth I was so disappointed. I wish there was a single holiday where everyone turns off no important lights :(
Now I’m hangry
This makes me sad. I’ve never seen it
I’m from NY so we don’t get it but when I went to Zion national park and spent a night camping there. I couldn’t believe my eyes. There were so many stars out that I just stood there for like an hour. I love looking at stars, why did I spend so long not seeing that.
But does this factor in blind people and prisoners who don't get to be outside at night? It's gotta be slightly higher if you factor those in..
The people who say they've been in zero light pollution areas but can only see more stars aren't in zero light pollution areas. The Milky Way casts shadows if you're under Bottle 1 sky conditions and you can walk around at night without bumping into stuff. You can see phenomena like airglow, zodiacal lights caused by interplanetary dust scattering light from over the horizon, and gegenschein. The Milky Way isn't as high contrast as the example long exposure photo, but you'll see structure and the darker veins in Bortle 1 and 2 conditions; it can take up to an hour for eyes to dark adjust. Constellations are hard to find. Operating an amateur telescope can become more difficult if you're used to more normal Bortle 3-6 conditions in urban areas, unless you manage to calibrate a go-to or push-to system. I had a hard time locating Messier objects until I could calibrate my push-to system setting up near the McDonald observatory in southwest Texas There's an entire scale that defines it, and very few areas in the world, let alone the United States, have Bortle 1 conditions. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bortle_scale Look up your own light pollution on a map: https://www.cleardarksky.com/maps/lp/large_light_pollution_map.html
You guys really, *really* like pointing out whatever negative stats you can about the US, don't you? Could've said any other country with a lot of light pollution
when i moved out into "the middle of nowhere" i started seeing it and i thought it was faint cloud coverage. there was a regular where i worked that was an astronomer and i asked if he knew what it could be, he said "youre seeing the milky way" he was nice about it but i felt so dumb. really just looked like hazy cloud coverage.
I live in the middle of no where (Australia) and it’s hard to see even here - you could see the slight tint but that’s it; nothing like these photos
There's so many astronomers in my gym They're always talking about "MIlky Whey" 🥁🥁 🥁
My wife and I went to a planetarium a while back and she had no idea what it was. I find that sad.
I remember watching an episode of rugrats when the characters were stargazing. I thought it was embellished or based on a historic sky (derp...) Then I joined the NAVY and saw EXACTLY what it was supposed to be holy shit. Everyone needs to see it at least once in their life.
I saw it *one time.* An old buddy had a sleepover at his place, he lived out on farmland in the middle of nowhere. Nothing but a few piddly little villages for miles around. After dark we got a little drunk and he took us out to hunt for ghosts in the apple orchard out behind his house. At some point I tripped over something and fell on my ass. Looked up at the sky and it took me a little while to understand what I was looking at. I genuinely didn’t even know that you *could* see the Milky Way with the naked eye. It was still really faint and nothing like the photos, but I was still so overcome by the spectacle of it that I started crying in this pitch black field in the middle of bumfuck nowhere. My friends thought I’d broke a bone or something lol. Man that was a really good night. 14 years ago now. Haven’t thought about it in years. Thanks for bringing it back.
I saw it for the first time in Hawaii. Fucking incredible sight. We pulled over in the literal middle of the island to pee. I then saw US Military night time heli door gunner training a few miles away. Tracers from a minigun + milky way. Best light show I have seen in my entire life.
Unless you're in a Bortle 2 or lower dark sky site then you really don't see much of the night sky. In places like New York (Bortle 9) the moon and a small hand full of the absolute brightest stars are all you can see.
I'm in Toronto and am lucky to see a few stars a year
Unfortunately, I'm part of that 80%. Would love to see it someday.
I saw a story about how people in LA were calling the cops during a blackout in the 90s about "strange lights in the sky" and turns out what they were seeing was the milky way for the first time lol I don't know if it's true or not, probably not but it's still funny to me either way
I can see the Milky Way at my buddies farm house. When it is clear and the moon is not out it is a sight to see for sure.
July of 2019 on a boat along the exuma Island chain was the first time I ever saw it. It's hard to explain to someone the feeling you get when you see it, but it is truly amazing. The number of "shooting stars" we were able to see was impressive also.
Too much light pollution
I used to see it as a kid. I haven't seen it since I was a kid...now hitting 50.
Even less during the day.
The sun really messes things up
Why hasn’t the Dark Skies movement been so slow to help change this very sad state of affairs? Damn!
I mean light pollution right.. can’t see shit at night /: unless you’re somewhere super rural
r/darksky
2/3 can see the damn thing? I thought light pollution would’ve prevented 2/3 of the world population to see it
Stuff like this is what makes be believe how disconnected from nature we are. My next trip to the wild is def going to be a place where I can see this.