Milky Way Directions

[Muddy Diver]

Can anyone help? I'm trying to locate the position of the milky way yet seem to be able to find only a reference that it is on the general direction of Sagitarius. Do i need any more accurate location or is t something which dominates Sagitarius at the moment? Can anyone give me a largish target which might be included in my The sky software so that I can find it?

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Hi Muddy,

The Milky way is the big long band of whitish haze that runs in a line from one horizon to the other. You may be able to identify some of the objects that lay in it:

Southern Cross, Carina, the stinger in Scorpius tail, and most of all 'Sagittarius' which is actually in the line of site towards the centre of our Galaxy (that's why Sagittarius is so bright).

If you are unfortunate to be in a Light Polluted area the Milky way can be very hard to see. Take a trip to a dark place and look up. At this present moment it is running from North-east to South-west going straight thru Zenith.

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Here is a sample of what objects are in the Milky Way and what it looks like in dark sky and with slight Light Pollution.

Pic 1: Milky Way in Dark Skies (facing South with Sagittarius directly over-head)
Pic 2: How hard it can be to see the Milky way with a bit of light pollution (facing South with Sagittarius directly over-head)
*Both images from Stellarium

[Muddy Diver]

Thanks a lot Ken. I've been out to take a look but too much pollution here. However, off to stay in a shack in Kangaroo valley next weekend so will print out your pics and take with me. With something as large as the Milky way are binoculars useful at viewing rather than a scope?

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Most definately!!!

Widefields are great in a scope, even better in knockies if they are biggies.

I can give you a better image of the Milky Way.

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Here ya go Muddy!

A fisheye view from horizon to horizon and running straight overhead.

Hope that helps.

[RAJAH235]

Hey Muddy, I suggest you buy yourself a 'Chandler' (large version), Planishere. Just $21 + postage from Bintel...Will help you find lots of things, including our Milky Way..
Ken's chart is gives a good idea on what you can expect to see, so at least, take your binoculars.
HTH. L.

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Here is a map of great objects in Sagittarius for your knockies or scope.

Scorpius's tail is on the left as a guide so you can recognise the area.

[Muddy Diver]

Oh Boy do I feel foolish... Well, impoverished actually. This weekend my wife and I joined some friends in a cottage near Kangaroo Valley. Extremely dark skies! At a convenient moment, I secretly togged up, grabbed my bino's and headed outdoors to look for the milky way. Theres me thinking I would need 15 minutes minimum to gain my night vision first. My excuse for never having noticed what is quite probably the most dominating object in the sky is that I have spent a life time in the northern hemisphere in light and other polluted skies. I couldnt beleieve what I saw, the Milky way just about everywhere and so clearly visible. nI wish I had taken the scope but it didnt seem the right thing to do when packing.

Thanks to all for the help. Ken that photo is great, what length of exposure did you use, would 30 secs be enough as thats all my camera can handle.

Rajah, I have a large Planisphere but didnt think to look at it. Thats because I've become accustomed to using the laptop and Pocket pc to locate things so I should get out there and practice with it more. Thanks for the tip

[janoskiss (Steve H)]

Impressive, isn't it? Glad you found it at last! This is the best time of the year to see the MW. It stretches across the sky from south to north with the centre of the galaxy directly overhead soon after dusk. Under dark skies it is an awesome sight. You'll never see anything quite like it in the northern hemisphere!

btw, Ken's "photos" are simulations I believe from a free program called Celestia.

[RAJAH235]

Yep. Totally agree. Is a really nice sight atpt. AHhhhhhh, Muddy. You must remember to use it & the red/green LED torch. 'Tis the easiest & quickest finder chart you'll ever come across.
FWIW. I have 2. 1 is 'hooked' to my dob & the other stays with my H-B atlas.
L.

[Muddy Diver]

Originally Posted by janoskiss

btw, Ken's "photos" are simulations I believe from a free program called Celestia.

I should consider moving to a better software application!

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Muddy,

Those Milky Way images are from a program called Stellarium.

You can download it from here: http://www.stellarium.org/