What I see in sky - Milky Way, other stars

In summary, the stars we see as individual units are all part of our own galaxy, but the "cloud" effect from their home galaxy is not visible when looking at them individually. Additionally, the nearest galaxy of comparable mass to the Milky Way is M31, which is visible to the naked eye in reasonably dark skies in the northern hemisphere.
  • #1
Homer Simpson
184
1
I've wondered about this for a while:

-the Milky Way which we are part of appears to be a white cloudish streak in the sky. I guess this is because the stars are so far away that it appears as a cloud of light?

-But I would assume that all the stars in the Milky Way, our own galazy, must be closer to us than stars in other galaxies?

So,

1- why is it that I can see individual stars in the sky, but not individual stars in the milky way?

2- And conversely, Why can I see individual stars (that must be part of other galaxies?), without the same 'cloud' effect from their home galaxy? I mean, these stars must be so much further away, so why would they appear alone and clear, when the stars in our own galaxy appear so muddled?

Thanks,
 
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  • #2
The stars that you can see as individuals are all part of our own galaxy and many of them are relatively nearby. The Milky Way that you see as a "streak" is actually the galactic plane of our spiral galaxy (the densest concentration of stars) and many of the stars on our line-of sight are not distinguishable as individuals.
 
  • #3
The stars that you can see as individuals are all part of our own galaxy

Well that clears a lot up then... about 29 years of the wrong mental model on this one. I didn't realize that. Thanks.



Seems pretty boring now though... just kidding... kind of. I'm going to have to go buy one of those Hubble dillies to check out all those galaxies now.
 
  • #4
If you have moderately dark skies, you should be able to see M31 with the unaided eye :)
 
  • #6
Nabeshin said:
If you have moderately dark skies, you should be able to see M31 with the unaided eye :)
Very true. In the southern hemisphere, you can see the Magellanic clouds which are companions of our own galaxy. The nearest galaxy of comparable mass to the Milky Way is M31 (seen through the constellation Andromeda) and it is visible to the naked eye in reasonably dark skies in the northern hemisphere.
 
  • #7
berkeman said:
Speaking of the Milky Way, did you folks see the APOD today? Amazing...

http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap090127.html

.
Thanks for linking that, berkeman! I am a member of the Our Dark Skies forum, and other long-time members routinely get APOD nods. In particular Diets, a surgeon, does fantastic work, and Greg and Noel (a Brit imager and a Floridian image processor) have a fantastic picture-book in the works. I know, because ODS members routinely get to see their images as works-in-progress. If anyone here is interested in astrophotography, I highly recommend that they join ODS. Noel Carboni has developed a powerful suite of actions for Adobe Photoshop and CS packages to greatly streamline image processing, and he will give a free set of these actions to any ODS member.

http://forum.ourdarkskies.com/
 
  • #8
turbo-1 said:
The nearest galaxy of comparable mass to the Milky Way is M31 (seen through the constellation Andromeda) and it is visible to the naked eye in reasonably dark skies ...
...and with reasonably young eyes.


A qualifier you don't know is applicable until it's too late...
 
  • #9
Wow, yes that is quite the APOD photo... beautiful. While googling the milky way before posting I ran across the photo below, which is pretty striking as well.




http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Deathvalleysky_nps_big.jpg


I'll keep an eye out for this M31... pretty clever name, its got to be good.
 
  • #10
Homer Simpson said:
I'll keep an eye out for this M31... pretty clever name, its got to be good.
It is called M31 because it was the 31st object cataloged by Messier. Messier was a French astronomer who wanted to compile a list of objects that might be confused with comets. Comet-hunting was all the rage then, and his catalog was intended to reduce the number of false-sightings.

BTW, when you see images in which the galactic plane of our MW is curved, it is an artifact of wide-angle photography. The MW's galactic plane is quite flat, with a bulge in the direction of the constellation Saggitarius.
 
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  • #11
BTW, when you see images in with the galactic plane of our MW is curved, it is an artifact of wide-angle photography. The MW's galactic plane is quite flat, with a bulge in the direction of the constellation Saggitarius.


Hey get out of my head! You're reading my mind now :smile:

I was just wondering that very thing while looking at the two pictures... I was picturing looking out from one of the MW spiral arms towards the center, and it wasn't adding up that it would be seen as curved. Thanks again!
 
  • #12
Homer Simpson said:
Hey get out of my head! You're reading my mind now :smile:
Mmmmmm! Donuts!
 
  • #13
turbo-1 said:
Mmmmmm! Donuts!

No, no, no. Mmmmmmm Beeer!
 
  • #14
berkeman said:
No, no, no. Mmmmmmm Beeer!
Not at work, berkeman! When you're an operator in a nuclear power plant, you can only have beer before and after work and maybe on breaks. Donuts at work-stations? Perfectly acceptable.
 
  • #15
Not at work, berkeman!

Well that's right for sure, if I got drunk at the panel then how would I drive home?
 
  • #16
Homer Simpson said:
Well that's right for sure, if I got drunk at the panel then how would I drive home?
More to the point, how you find your way to Moe's so you could have "just one more"?
 
  • #17
This is a somewhat related question, so I figured I'd add it here instead of just starting a new thread.

I'm 26 years old, and I've never seen the Milky Way (meaning the galactic plane) before. I live on the outskirts of Baltimore, so it's just too bright around here. If I drive about 20 miles from the city lights, I can see maybe a few dozen stars out. At my house (2 miles from the city line,) I struggle to see 20-30. From my house, the Pleiades, for example, looks like a fuzzy patch of very pale light that looks like it may not be real at first.

How far away from the city lights do I need to travel to see the Milky Way? Think there would be anywhere within an hour of Baltimore, MD where I could actually see the galactic plane?
 
  • #18
This might have more to do with your night vision. I live in the burbs of Toronto, a city of 4 million people, and my 44 year old eyes can see hundreds or even thousands of stars if I go to a dark park.

Also, if the Plaeides are a fuzzy patch, that would definitely point to a vision thing. If it's dark enough to see it at all, you should be able to be able to make out at least 5 distinct stars visible in the shape of a "tiny dipper".
 
  • #19
It is stunning from a dark site, especially in the southern hemisphere.
The first time I saw the milky way from our observatory in Chile I thought it was a cloud.
You can't see it on Hawaii, the low oxygen at altitude wrecks your night vision.
 
  • #20
mgb_phys said:
...the low oxygen at altitude wrecks your night vision.
I did not know this.

Waitaminnit; I still don't. Hawaii is at sea level. I presume you mean from the observatory...
 
  • #21
DaveC426913 said:
This might have more to do with your night vision. I live in the burbs of Toronto, a city of 4 million people, and my 44 year old eyes can see hundreds or even thousands of stars if I go to a dark park.

Also, if the Plaeides are a fuzzy patch, that would definitely point to a vision thing. If it's dark enough to see it at all, you should be able to be able to make out at least 5 distinct stars visible in the shape of a "tiny dipper".

It's possible. I've read that the more you use your night vision, the stronger it becomes. Maybe I just need to go somewhere more dark, and give my eyes time to adjust, instead of looking up after driving on the highway, staring into oncoming headlights.
 
  • #22
Jack21222 said:
It's possible. I've read that the more you use your night vision, the stronger it becomes. Maybe I just need to go somewhere more dark, and give my eyes time to adjust, instead of looking up after driving on the highway, staring into oncoming headlights.
You need to be patient - it can easily take you 1/2 hour or more to be dark-adapted enough to see faint stuff.
 
  • #23
DaveC426913 said:
Waitaminnit; I still don't. Hawaii is at sea level. I presume you mean from the observatory...
Yes, sorry - Mauna Kea Observatory is about 14,500ft.
 
  • #24
Jack21222 said:
It's possible. I've read that the more you use your night vision, the stronger it becomes. Maybe I just need to go somewhere more dark, and give my eyes time to adjust, instead of looking up after driving on the highway, staring into oncoming headlights.

Once your eyes become acclimated to the dark, you can also try using averted vision to glimpse some things you ordinarily wouldn't be able to make out.
 
  • #25
Nabeshin said:
you can also try using averted vision to glimpse some things you ordinarily wouldn't be able to make out.

In other words - you have much better vision out of the corner of your eye than straight ahead.
It's a trick in amateur astronomy to train yourself to look at a different object in order to see a much fainter one off to the side.
 
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  • #26
mgb_phys said:
In other words - you have much better vision out of the corner of your eye than straight ahead.
It's a trick in amateur astronomy to train yourself to look at a different object in order to see a much fainter one off to the side.
Of course, this is moot when looking at the sky-spanning Milky Way...
 
  • #27
You could also try a pair of wide angle binoculars...
 
  • #28
  • #29
It's the milky way - as somebody said the curve is an effect of the wide angle lens.
 
  • #30
mgb_phys said:
It's the milky way - as somebody said the curve is an effect of the wide angle lens.

So the individual circles of stars is all so the wide angle lens?
 
  • #31
There are a couple of small circular/semicircular asterisms in the photo. Those are chance alignments of foreground stars.
 
  • #32
turbo-1 said:
There are a couple of small circular/semicircular asterisms in the photo. Those are chance alignments of foreground stars.
I hadn't seen those until I stared at it.
 
  • #33
Jack21222 said:
This is a somewhat related question, so I figured I'd add it here instead of just starting a new thread.

I'm 26 years old, and I've never seen the Milky Way (meaning the galactic plane) before. I live on the outskirts of Baltimore, so it's just too bright around here. If I drive about 20 miles from the city lights, I can see maybe a few dozen stars out. At my house (2 miles from the city line,) I struggle to see 20-30. From my house, the Pleiades, for example, looks like a fuzzy patch of very pale light that looks like it may not be real at first.

How far away from the city lights do I need to travel to see the Milky Way? Think there would be anywhere within an hour of Baltimore, MD where I could actually see the galactic plane?

Just for your info you live about 4 and half hours away from one of the darkest areas on the east coast, in WV:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&sou...ejxsr9vk0rCylA&cbp=11,302.71133717992535,,0,5

I've found this light pollution map quite useful.
http://www.jshine.net/astronomy/dark_sky/index.php [Broken]
 
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  • #34
DaleSwanson said:
Just for your info you live about 4 and half hours away from one of the darkest areas on the east coast, in WV:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&sou...ejxsr9vk0rCylA&cbp=11,302.71133717992535,,0,5

I've found this light pollution map quite useful.
http://www.jshine.net/astronomy/dark_sky/index.php [Broken]

Wow, nice links.

Interesting to know I live in one of the brightest parts of the country.
 
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  • #35
Awesome stuff. I wish I could figure out how Google works.

How did you get that split screen? How can I tell if my street has been Google-Street-viewed?
 
<h2>1. What is the Milky Way?</h2><p>The Milky Way is the name of our home galaxy, a vast collection of stars, gas, and dust held together by gravity. It is estimated to be about 100,000 light-years in diameter and contains around 200-400 billion stars.</p><h2>2. How many stars are in the Milky Way?</h2><p>As mentioned before, the Milky Way is estimated to contain around 200-400 billion stars. However, this number is constantly changing as new stars are born and old ones die.</p><h2>3. Can we see other galaxies in the sky?</h2><p>Yes, we can see other galaxies in the sky. On a clear, dark night, we can see the Andromeda galaxy, which is the closest spiral galaxy to our own. With the help of telescopes and other instruments, we can also observe many other galaxies beyond our own.</p><h2>4. What are the other bright objects we see in the sky at night?</h2><p>The other bright objects we see in the sky at night are likely planets in our own solar system. The brightest object in the sky, besides the Moon, is usually Venus. Other planets such as Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn can also be visible to the naked eye at certain times.</p><h2>5. How do scientists study and learn about stars and galaxies?</h2><p>Scientists use a variety of tools and techniques to study stars and galaxies. Telescopes, both on Earth and in space, allow us to observe and collect data on distant objects. Spectroscopy, the study of light emitted by objects, helps us determine the composition and temperature of stars. Computer simulations and mathematical models also play a crucial role in understanding the behavior and evolution of stars and galaxies.</p>

1. What is the Milky Way?

The Milky Way is the name of our home galaxy, a vast collection of stars, gas, and dust held together by gravity. It is estimated to be about 100,000 light-years in diameter and contains around 200-400 billion stars.

2. How many stars are in the Milky Way?

As mentioned before, the Milky Way is estimated to contain around 200-400 billion stars. However, this number is constantly changing as new stars are born and old ones die.

3. Can we see other galaxies in the sky?

Yes, we can see other galaxies in the sky. On a clear, dark night, we can see the Andromeda galaxy, which is the closest spiral galaxy to our own. With the help of telescopes and other instruments, we can also observe many other galaxies beyond our own.

4. What are the other bright objects we see in the sky at night?

The other bright objects we see in the sky at night are likely planets in our own solar system. The brightest object in the sky, besides the Moon, is usually Venus. Other planets such as Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn can also be visible to the naked eye at certain times.

5. How do scientists study and learn about stars and galaxies?

Scientists use a variety of tools and techniques to study stars and galaxies. Telescopes, both on Earth and in space, allow us to observe and collect data on distant objects. Spectroscopy, the study of light emitted by objects, helps us determine the composition and temperature of stars. Computer simulations and mathematical models also play a crucial role in understanding the behavior and evolution of stars and galaxies.

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