Finding the Milky way so you can shoot it

May 14, 2021

  1. The galactic center, the really pretty part is only visible in the Northern hemisphere from February til October in a south/southeast direction
  2. The time the Galactic center is rising constantly changes. In the early part of the year, the galactic center rises in the early morning low on the southeastern horizon and it often is visible only for a small time. Come mid-May, the center is visible before midnight and by midsummer you can see it right after sunset.
  3. You can find a milky way calendar by googling. Better yet, get photopills and enable the widgets. They give the precise time for the galactic center rising. The app SkyGuide is also useful
  4. It is not necessary to have completely dark skies. However, it is best to look south where there are no cities, for example over the ocean of one of the great lakes.
  5. The galactic center is also bright enough to see even when the moon is out. Make sure you take the time to let your eyes adjust to the darkness. Your camera (yes even a phone) often can see the Milky way better than you! Point your camera south/southeast, set the ISO to 6400, aperture as wide as possible (f2.8) and 15 sec exposure time. Use a tripod.
  6. Please email me if you have any questions!!