For many people, the Milky Way is something seen only in photographs, but Saskatchewan’s dark skies offer opportunities to view the galaxy with the naked eye.
August is one of the best times of the year to see the Milky Way from Saskatchewan, according to Abigail Sadowski, a resident Astra member with the Kalium Observatory in Regina.
From a dark location, the galaxy appears as a pale, cloudy band stretching across the night sky.
Sadowski said people who see it for the first time sometimes mistake it for something else.
“Sometimes when people first see it, they think it’s a cloud or a dust patch because so many people can’t see it because of light pollution,” Sadowski said.
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Finding the centre of the galaxy
Sadowski said one way to locate the brighter section of the Milky Way is by looking toward the constellation Sagittarius near the southern horizon.
The brightest stars in Sagittarius create a recognizable shape often described as a teapot. Sadowski said the Milky Way appears like steam coming from that shape.
“When we look in the direction of Sagittarius, we’re actually looking toward the centre of our galaxy,” she said.
The area appears especially bright and dense because observers are looking toward the middle of the Milky Way.
Sadowski also explained that the Summer Triangle can help people navigate the night sky.
The pattern is made up of three bright stars from different constellations and is used by astronomers as a guide for locating other objects in the sky.
Capturing Saskatchewan’s dark skies
Sadowski said her astronomy partner Malcolm Warren captured a photo of the Milky Way that highlights what can be seen from areas with limited light pollution.
She said people do not need a telescope to appreciate the view.
“It is really beautiful to see,” she said.