Viewing the Milky Way on Coll

How do I See the Milky Way

Although the Milky Way is always up there in the sky, it's very difficult to see a lot of the time.
The further north you live exacerbates this problem and above 65 degrees the Milky Way is pretty much invisible! Luckily, Coll isn't that far north and for us the Milky Way appears strongest in the low southern sky.

The Milky Way is most visible, in Scotland, from April to September. However, around mid-summer the night skies are just too light and the Milky Way is, once again, hidden from view.

It takes your eyes 15 to 20 minutes to see their best in the dark. Looking at any bright light source will diminish the view. Leaving a well-lit house, even after driving with the headlights on, will make the Milky Way far less visible.

 

Best Times To Spot the Milky Way

MONTH	BEST TIME	MOON PHASE*
January	IMPOSSIBLE	-
February	Difficult. Before sunrise (late February only)	3Q to New
March	Difficult. Before sunrise	New to 1Q
April	4am to Sunrise	New to 1Q
May	3am to 6am (early May only)	New to 1Q
June	IMPOSSIBLE - too light	-
July	IMPOSSIBLE - too light	-
August	Sunset until 10pm	3Q to New
September	Sunset until 9pm	3Q to New
October	Difficult: Sunset (early October only)	3Q to New
November	IMPOSSIBLE	-
December	IMPOSSIBLE	-

*1Q means first quarter moon (half full). In its first quarter the moon rises around noon and sets near midnight. 2Q is a Full moon. Nearly full is called a Gibbous. It is nearly impossible to see the Milky Way when the moon is near full. 3Q is the third quarter (also half full) moon which rises near midnight and sets near noon. New means the moon rises and sets very near the sun. Includes a slender crescent phase, too.