Summer is always a fun time in astronomy. While winter skies do technically allow for clearer viewing because of the still air, winter in Wyoming can be particularly harsh at night, especially if the wind is blowing! But in the summer, the temperatures are much nicer, and there’s still plenty of unique things to see in the sky during the latter half of summer. As I always note during astronomy tips, make sure to stop phone use several minutes before trying to view anything, and get out to a dark place with as little light pollution as possible for the best experience.
One of the most recognizable things in the sky during Summer is the aptly named “Summer Triangle,” an asterism that consists of three stars, Vega, Deneb, and Altair. The Summer Triangle has been used as a navigation aid for a long time, with the US Air Force referring to it as the “Navigator’s Triangle.” The triangle can help you navigate too, although in a slightly different way, as the easily recognizable asterism is a great way to get yourself oriented in the night sky if you’re looking for other celestial objects.
But if you aren’t looking to navigate, summertime is the best time for stargazing. During the summer, the night side of the Earth is pointed directly at the core of the Milky Way. In Wyoming, we’re able to see the band of the Milky Way very easily, and it only becomes even more spectacular during the summertime. If you’ve never seen it, if it isn’t cloudy, I recommend driving 20 minutes outside of town and just looking up. You’ll see a brilliant band of light going across the entire length of the sky, and it’s amazing to look at, especially after your eyes have adjusted to the darkness.
But, if you’re looking for something specific, one of my favorites is the Lagoon Nebula, or Messier 8. It’s easily visible in the dark skies here in Wyoming if you know what you’re looking for, and it is located in the constellation of Sagittarius. The Lagoon Nebula is an enormous cloud of interstellar gas and dust, stretching nearly 110 light-years in its long direction. It’s one of only two star-forming nebulae that are visible to the naked eye (the other one being the Orion Nebula), and makes for an amazing summer viewing experience.
So if you’re looking for something fun to do, grab a pair of binoculars, a telescope, or even your spotting scope for hunting the next time you go out camping this summer. One of the most amazing things about Wyoming that is remarkably rare in the rest of the country is good, dark skies. I recommend you make use of them, it’s a highly rewarding experience!
