When is the best time to see our "Milky Way" if you live in MI? Also when is the best month to see meteors?

Question

I live in Michigan so I am sure that makes a big difference than if I lived in the southern states. True?

Answer 1

not your milky way its mine yum yum

Answer 2

The best time is at night, when it's clear.  That's fairly rare in Michigan. You might say Summer time when the center of the Milky Way is in view, but it's a ring, and can be seen all year long.  And it doesn't get dark until 10 pm, so you have to stay up for it.  In the winter, you can see it much earlier.  So, it depends on what you consider "best".  Perhaps you'd rather stay up and be warmer.

It's not really better elsewhere.

I live near Detroit, and have to drive at least an additional half hour farther to have any chance of seeing the Milky Way.  So, location counts.

Arizona can see the Milky Way more often, but they don't have the Michigan Nebula (the word nebula means "cloud").

Your local astronomy clubs, even the ones in Detroit, can tell you where there are good dark sky sites.

The dark sky clock also has a great light pollution map.  Find an observatory near you and check it out.

All of these answers apply to meteors.  There are some good showers, like the Perseids, which peak on August 12th.  But that's a Tuesday.  I hope to see some this weekend.  There are meteors every night.  They pick up a little in frequency after local midnight, as the Earth plows into them.  And under darker skies you'll see more of them.

Answer 3

you cant see the milky way. meteors i dont think there is a specific month they happen all the time but most of them are small ones i think if ur really lucky ull see one in the summer if ur in arizona  

Answer 4

You should be able to see the milky way tonight... if you have clear skies, and you are away from a large city.  The darker the skies, the better the viewing.  Being close to a city washes out a lot of the smaller stars.  The moon can also wash out stars.  Also, remember it takes about 20 minutes for your eyes to adjust to darkness, the longer you stay out the more you'll notice the stars.

Answer 5

i am in Michigan too and boy is it hard to see the Milky Way anywhere near a big city.

so, GO AWAY FROM THE CITY!

when i was up at Higgins and Houghton Lakes a couple weeks ago the Milky Way rose up like steam from the teakettle of Sagitarius.  It was clear, bright and awe-inspiring.  Also, very nearly straight up!

Answer 6

The best time to view the Milky Way is during the summer months when the center of our galaxy is above us at night.  The galactic center is located towards the constellation Sagittarius.  The best time to see meteors is right now too.  The Perseids meteor shower happens every year for about a month around August but the best night to see them on is the 16th of August.  I used to live in Indiana and I could see them actually pretty good, but now I live in Nevada and when I go out in to the desert at night it is quite an amazing view of the stars.  Hope this answer your question..

Answer 7

look straight up to your zenith everything you see is part of the milky way if you got binoculars use the the really thick line of stars that goes from horizon to horizon is looking towards the inside of the galaxy if its not there then you are pointed towards the outside of the galaxy remember we are 2/3 the way out from the center of the milky way galaxy