The Milky Way and the Winter Triangle

The Milky Way is often associated with the summer sky. However, the misty band of light is visible all year long.

The winter Milky Way is not as bright as its summer counterpart because our current view is outward, away from the center of our galaxy. In the summer, the Milky Way appears brighter because our view is inward, toward the galaxy’s center.

If you’re far from city lights this dark moonless weekend, look for the Milky Way arching across the sky from north to south. The band of pale light passes through the constellations of Cassiopeia, Perseus, Auriga, Gemini and Orion and between the bright stars of the “winter triangle.”

You don’t need to be out in the country to locate the triangle. Just trace a line from Betelgeuse, the bright star in Orion’s right shoulder, east to Procyon, the brightest star in Canis Minor. Sirius, the brightest star in Canis Major and the entire night sky, is the last star in the triangle.