Quote:
Originally Posted by polak
We've all seen the amazing pictures out there of the night sky with a vivid and bright band of light called "the arc of the milky way".
According to many sites, it shouldn't be all that difficult to see on a clear night if you're a good distance out of any larger town or city and seeing how we live in Canada, we've all been in areas without light pollution but how many of us have seen it? Personally I love camping and seeing all the stars light up the sky but in all the years I've been camping, whether it be in the Rockies, prairies or on the coast, I have never been lucky enough to witness such a spectacle.
I can't be the only one who hasn't seen the Arc of the Milky Way before? Does anyone have any tips? Maybe pics they have snapped?
|
The best sighting I've ever had of the Milky Way was at about 11,500 feet in Shira 2 Camp on Mt. Kilimanjaro when I got up for a leak at 4 a.m. There isn't an ounce of contaminating light in that place, there are some surrounding hills that give the horizon some definition amidst the stars and you're pretty close to Outer Space. Nearly fell over backwards holding my willie while trying to stare straight up and take it all in. I used a bottle thereafter so never went out at 15,300 feet where we camped three times after that.
Driving up Haleakala on Maui you see a pretty fantastic Milky Way as well if you go early enough and can catch a break in the traffic headlights.
On cloudless, moonless nights at our acreage southwest of the city, I see the Milky Way in clear definition quite often, particularly in winter.
Cowperson