How to find Milky Way: I know this is last minute, but I’m leaving for Puerto Rico tomorrow. I figured it should be dark there and I might have a chance to check something off my...

MWojton Loc: Yardley, PA

I know this is last minute, but I’m leaving for Puerto Rico tomorrow. I figured it should be dark there and I might have a chance to check something off my bucket list. But how do I know where/when to look?

Thanks for your help.

BassmanBruce Loc: Middle of the Mitten

There are numerous apps to help in this, photo pills being a popular one.
Myself I just look south to south east after eyes have adjusted to darkness. It’s actually very easy to see if the sky is dark enough. The moon is almost full right now though and depending on your timing might really interfere. (No moon is much better)
Good luck, post em when you get back.

Edit: I just went here: https://darksitefinder.com/maps/world.html#8/18.396/-67.473
Puerto Rico looked kinda bright, I’d still give it a go though. Pixels are free!

MWojton Loc: Yardley, PA

Darn- I thought it would be darker being out in the middle of the Caribbean. But thank you. I will look.

therwol Loc: USA

MWojton wrote:

I know this is last minute, but I’m leaving for Puerto Rico tomorrow. I figured it should be dark there and I might have a chance to check something off my bucket list. But how do I know where/when to look?

Thanks for your help.

If you are in a truly dark place with little or no light pollution, it's so obvious you can't miss it. It takes up a large part of the sky. It's also mind boggling, sort of like looking down into the Grand Canyon.

BassmanBruce Loc: Middle of the Mitten

MWojton wrote:

Darn- I thought it would be darker being out in the middle of the Caribbean. But thank you. I will look.

Same here. The south shore might hold some promise.
Also they have “el Presidente” beer down there, so the trip is sure to be a good one!

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

MWojton wrote:

I know this is last minute, but I’m leaving for Puerto Rico tomorrow. I figured it should be dark there and I might have a chance to check something off my bucket list. But how do I know where/when to look?

Thanks for your help.

You really don't need an app for this, but Puerto Rico is likely not to be a good location for observation or photography. Too much humidity (and likely pollution). Atmosphere too dense because of the low elevation. Also, as has been mentioned, the near full moon is going to be very close to where the Milky Way should be, and the light is going to create a real problem. But...go out around midnight. Give your eyes a good 30 minutes to adapt to the dark...no flashlights, no other light. If it is visible, you will see it pretty quickly. The galactic core (the widest and brightest part) will be just south of the ecliptic (the path that the sun follows).

The moon would spoil any attempts at photography, but you just might be able to see the Milky Way with your eyes. If you can't see it, you still had a pleasant evening out.

Let us know how it goes.

therwol Loc: USA

larryepage wrote:

Too much humidity (and likely pollution). Atmosphere too dense because of the low elevation.

I've gotten spectacular views of the Milky Way along the Northern California coast, sea level and humid near the water. I've also gotten spectacular views in Cumbria in England, not much above sea level and humid. I think that light pollution is the main reason why most people never see it. I'm excluding clouds because it isn't always cloudy anywhere.

joncogar Loc: WV

I use this app for anything sky related. Works for me.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.vitotechnology.StarWalk2Free

tcthome Loc: NJ

Photo Pills. I have the app on my iphone/ipad. Cost$10.In NJ the moon gets down below 25% aroundthe end of the first week in July. The darker the better. Have fun & enjoy your trip.

bbrown5154 Loc: Baltimore, MD

MWojton wrote:

I know this is last minute, but I’m leaving for Puerto Rico tomorrow. I figured it should be dark there and I might have a chance to check something off my bucket list. But how do I know where/when to look?

Thanks for your help.

There are a lot of smart phone apps that will help with that. Some are free and some are a nominal price.
I think PhotoPills is excellent and has a ton of other valuable options for photographers. That one has a fee.
SkyView Lite is another one I use. It was free.
GoSkyWatch is another not sure if it was free or not.

oldgrayowl

MWojton wrote:

I know this is last minute, but I’m leaving for Puerto Rico tomorrow. I figured it should be dark there and I might have a chance to check something off my bucket list. But how do I know where/when to look?

Thanks for your help.

Actually, Puerto Rico isn't all that dark. Check out the App: Dark Sky Map.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Finding -
https://expertphotography.com/how-to-find-the-milky-way-at-night/
https://goldpaintphotography.com/2015/07/24/how-to-find-the-milky-way/
https://www.lonelyspeck.com/how-to-find-the-milky-way/

Photographing -
https://photographylife.com/landscapes/how-to-photograph-the-milky-way
https://www.lightstalking.com/how-to-photograph-the-milky-way/
https://astrobackyard.com/how-to-photograph-milky-way/
http://www.picturecorrect.com/tips/how-to-photograph-the-milky-way-in-places-with-light-pollution

Stacking -
https://photographylife.com/landscapes/photographing-the-milky-way/3
https://www.outdoorphotographer.com/star-stacking-for-pinpoint-stars-and-low-noise/
https://photographingspace.com/stacking-vs-single/
https://www.stevenjmagner.com/blog/2018/6/20/basic-photoshop-milky-way-stacking-blending-tutorial
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H330G83xyRo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzVSm64zq44

george19

BassmanBruce wrote:

Same here. The south shore might hold some promise.
Also they have “el Presidente” beer down there, so the trip is sure to be a good one!

I see similar results from my light pollution app, but slightly better than Flagstaff AZ, where I was able to see Milky Way at the Lowell Observatory…so there is some hope.

Capn_Dave

BassmanBruce wrote:

Same here. The south shore might hold some promise.
Also they have “el Presidente” beer down there, so the trip is sure to be a good one!

I can see a lot better after a few El Presdente's The best in the Carribean
👍😁👍

uhaas2009

If the Light pollution is low you can see it. If you want plan certain pics then you may get the app photo Pill. With this app you can calculate where the sun, moon, Milky Way will be.