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    Seen the Milky Way lately?
    By Johannes Koelman | January 1st 2010 08:49 PM | 4 comments | Print | E-mail | Track Comments
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    About Johannes

    I am a Dutchman, currently living in India. Following a PhD in theoretical physics (spin-polarized quantum systems*) I entered a Global Fortune

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    In the age of the Hubble Space Telescope, and ever larger earthbound scopes being build, many people are of the impression that one needs costly equipment to enjoy the night skies.

    Nothing is further from the truth. Reality, however, is that occasions at which one can observe the stars and planets are sparse due to urban light pollution. Tommaso has blogged about this issue before (see: The Continuing Search For A Dark Site).

    Those who have never seen the Milky Way with their own eyes, have a look at attached video. I think this comes as close as one can get to the real experience. No telescope was used. This timelapse shoot was taken by William Castleman with a normal camera with a fisheye lens to ensure coverage of (almost) the full sky.

    Do not try this in your urban backyard: you need a really dark spot.


    Click on the white 'four arrow button' in the right-hand corner for the best effect (full-screen view).

    Following the nightfall, you will see stars and various constellations before the Milky Way becomes visible in full splendor. Not sure about the flashes appearing in the sky early in the video. Could be meteorites or airplanes. (Anyone?) The red lights at the horizon are red flashlights used by amateur astronomers when setting and checking their telescopes (video was taken at a 'Star Party').

    Galactic Center of Milky Way Rises over Texas Star Party from William Castleman on Vimeo.

    Comments

    That is one of my goals in life--to one day see the Milky Way. Even at star parties that I've gone to hear in the Midwest under relatively dark skies, I have never been able to see the Milky Way. It's one of the greatest frustrations of my life. I've met the Astronomer Royal, Sir Martin Rees, but I've never seen the Milky Way. Life is strange. LOL ;-)
    EricFD (not verified) | 01/02/10 | 00:51 AM
    Hfarmer
    I saw it at a glance once. Driving from LA to Denver there is a stretch of interstate that is unlighted and there is no real civilization for 500 miles in any direction.  I only got to glance at it.  It would be nice to be able to take an extended look at it.
    —
    Science advances as much by mistakes as by plans.
    Hontas Farmer | 01/02/10 | 14:28 PM
    dorigo
    Oh wow. Many thoughts.
    1) great video! And I am positive there is at least one meteor streak at the beginning (but I am sure that a close inspection would reveal more)
    2) I knew it already, but it is so depressing to hear that there are people who never saw the milky way!! It is so sad. Light pollution sucks!
    3) Our galaxy is so beautiful! I use a 16" dobsonian to watch distant galaxies and I love to glimpse at a few details, but the amount of riches our own galaxy displays is impressive indeed. From a very dark site this becomes obvious.

    cheers,
    T.
    Tommaso Dorigo | 01/02/10 | 17:55 PM
    The best viewing of the milky way is from less populated dry desert regions during the new moon. Then you get a rather good view with the better display in autumn. A pair of binoculars is helpful. Best viewing is through a small telescope with industrial optics in stead of commercial optics.

    Astronomy is a field of science that welcomes participation from the public, and provides opportunities for exchange of information. It also makes a great hobby, and promotes an attitude of humility.

    Astrophysics provides a better explanation of physics to the other sciences, than the remainder of the physics community does. For the most part the physics community would like to live inside it's own little universe with not much going out or coming in from the surroundings. The cause of this is that they get a lot of nonsense offered to them as a continual nuisance.

    Johannes has done a remarkable thing reaching out to the larger science community. From my years in the Netherlands, I didn't see the milky way even once, although I had a rather good telescope mounted in a high rise building. Orion was reliable for viewing every year and made a really spectacular showing.

    During those years I was able to visit the radio astronomy installations at Westerbork
    and Dwingeloo on several occasions. Later Dwingeloo looked through the milky way and found two large companion galaxies close to the milky way but hidden from view.

    Amateur Astronomer (not verified) | 01/18/10 | 17:24 PM
    You're quite right - it is pretty hard to get a good view of the milky way, here in the Netherlands. That timelapse shoot in the Texas desert is amazing!

    Here in Holland I often try to take advantage of the yearly Perseid meteor shower (around 12/13 August). It is a wonderful sight to see earth streaking thru the dusty remains of the comet Swift-Tuttle - the meteors shooting towards you from the constellation of Perseus, giving a feeling like you might be on the bridge of the starship Enterprise :-)

    Dark places are hard to come by, but I've often been lucky walking north on the beach from coastal places like Egmond aan Zee, or Bergen aan Zee. After about one kilometer the dunes shield most of the light from inland.

    Last time I watched the Perseids, the milky way was also in view. Splendid to see such a thing without any instruments, just with the naked eye!

    Cheers!

    Bob Brand (not verified) | 01/22/10 | 09:51 AM