The Milky Way will be visible across the US this month. Here's how to get the best views.
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission.
The bright band of the Milky Way is about to make its first great appearance of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are few more impressive sights than the arc of the Milky Way spanning the night sky, but skywatchers don't always know exactly how, when and where to see it. In fact, one-third of humanity — and 80% of Americans — cannot see it.
The reason is light pollution, with the sky's brightness increasing by between 7% and 10% per year between 2011 and 2023, according to a 2023 study published in the journal Science. As a result, if you want to see the Milky Way, you'll need to be as far away from light pollution as possible. Good options include a Dark Sky Place or somewhere that looks dark on a light pollution map.
Although the Milky Way can be seen in some form for about eight months of the year, the galaxy's bright core becomes easier to see — and gets higher in the sky — as of May as seen from midlatitudes of the Northern Hemisphere, which includes the entire continental United States and the most populated parts of Canada.
Related: The 10 best stargazing events of 2025
According to the Milky Way photography website Capture The Atlas, "Milky Way season" runs from February to October, usually between midnight and 5 a.m. local time, though your location and the phase of the moon matter a lot. During May, the period between the last quarter moon on May 20 and the new moon on May 30 is the time to look for the Milky Way.
RELATED STORIES
—Does the Milky Way orbit anything?
—How many galaxies orbit the Milky Way?
—James Webb telescope spots Milky Way's long-lost 'twin' — and it is 'fundamentally changing our view of the early universe'
Even if you have a clear, moonless night, the viewing window is further restricted by when the galaxy's bright core rises from your location. The key is to find out when the Summer Triangle — a shape formed by three bright stars — becomes visible. This vast asterism of Deneb in the constellation Cygnus, Vega in Lyra and Altair in Aquila sits across the Milky Way. If it's above the horizon, you have a good chance of spotting it. Between May 20 and May 30, the Summer Triangle will be up in the east at midnight and higher in the southeast by 3 a.m. local time.
The Milky Way will rise higher into the sky — and appear earlier — as the Summer Triangle becomes more prominent in June and July, but a lack of darkness at mid-northern latitudes around the solstice on June 20-21 makes May the best time to grab a first glance before the Milky Way gets much brighter and higher in the sky in August and September.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Associated Press
42 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Corramedical Opens Applications for 2025 Biopsy Catchment Biobank Investigators Award
'A biopsy represents an opportunity for diagnosis and discovery. This award encourages creative minds in biobanking to redefine what's possible with the cells we already extract — and usually discard.'— Wilfrido Mojica, MD LA JOLLA, CA, UNITED STATES, June 23, 2025 / / -- Corramedical, Inc., a leader in innovative biopsy specimen technologies, is now accepting applications for the 2025 Biopsy Catchment Biobank Investigators Award. This competitive grant program will award a total of $15,000 to support original research exploring the biobanking and biomarker potential of dislodged tumor cells recovered using the Crow's Nest™ Biopsy Catchment System. The Crow's Nest system is a portable, disposable tool designed to recover a second specimen — composed of viable, analyzable tumor cells — from material that is typically discarded during core needle biopsies. This minimally handled specimen, unexposed to formalin, represents a high-quality resource for biobanks and downstream 'omics research. Corramedical invites researchers to submit 500-word proposals demonstrating how this recovered cellular material can be incorporated into forward-thinking, integrated biobanking workflows. Proposals should highlight applications across genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, or other emerging multiomic fields and articulate how these workflows could add value to both (a) biobank infrastructure and (b) biomarker discovery pipelines in academia and pharma. Key Award Details: • Award Amount: Three (3) recipients will receive $5,000 each. • Additional Support: Each award includes Crow's Nest devices, free of charge, in quantities specific to the winning protocol. • Eligibility: Open to U.S.-based applicants. Concurrent funding from other sources does not disqualify applicants. • Consultation: Applicants may request a complimentary project consultation with a Corramedical-affiliated pathologist or technical staff member. • Acknowledgment: Recipients are expected to cite the Crow's Nest Biopsy Catchment System in the methods section of resulting publications. Application Process: • Deadline: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis beginning July 1, 2025, and accepted throughout the remainder of the year. • Submission: Proposals (max 500 words) should be submitted via email to [email protected]. • Contact: For inquiries, contact +1-833-4-BIOPSY or visit 'Each core needle biopsy represents an opportunity not only for diagnosis but for discovery,' said Dr. Wilfrido Mojica, Corramedical Chief Technology Officer. 'This award encourages creative minds in biobanking to help redefine what's possible with the cells we already extract — and usually discard.' For updates, find Corramedical online at and follow us on LinkedIn at Corramedical is an EvoNexus portfolio company. Crow's Nest™, One Biopsy, Many Answers™, and Biopsy Catchment™ are trademarks of Corramedical, Inc. Nathan Edwards Corramedical, Inc. +1 833-424-6779 ext. 1 email us here Visit us on social media: LinkedIn Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
Associated Press
42 minutes ago
- Associated Press
The Training Data Project Wins Prestigious ICEAA 2025 Best Paper Award for Work on AI Data Labeling and Risk Reduction
06/23/2025, Washington, D.C // PRODIGY: Feature Story // David Cook, Co-Founder of The Training Data Project (Source: The Training Data Project) The Training Data Project, a company focused on quantifying AI value and pioneering data labeling standards, has been awarded the 2025 Best Paper honor by the International Cost Estimating and Analysis Association (ICEAA) in the Management, EVM, Software & Agile category. The winning paper, 'Enabling Measurable Success in DoD AI Programs from Acquisition to Operations,' highlights the central role that training data and data labeling play in AI performance, accountability, and long-term program value. The paper, co-authored by The Training Data Project co-founder David Cook, was selected from a competitive field of government and industry contributors. It outlines a practical methodology for quantifying the value and risk associated with AI systems in Department of Defense programs, beginning not at deployment, but at the foundation: the training data pipeline. 'It's an incredible honor to be recognized by the ICEAA, especially at a conference of cost estimators, a community I've never formally belonged to,' said Cook. 'But that's also the point. As AI continues to expand, its financial and operational value depends on something often overlooked: the integrity of the data we feed into it.' At the core of The Training Data Project's mission is the belief that nothing moves in AI without quality data. Data labeling, the process of annotating and identifying data points to 'teach' AI models what to pay attention to, is the bridge between raw inputs and intelligent outcomes. When done incorrectly, the results can be not just ineffective, but dangerous. 'Bad training data is worse than no training data,' Cook added. 'Mistakes made early in the labeling process don't just vanish. They cascade. They replicate through the system like compound interest, and by the time you spot the failure, the only option might be to start over.' To train an AI to recognize a stop sign, for example, it's not enough to feed it thousands of perfectly clear images. The model must also be exposed to a wide range of real-world variations including poor lighting, partial obstructions, weather damage, unusual angles, and visual interference. The more representative and well-labeled the training data, the better the AI can generalize and respond accurately in unpredictable, real-life conditions. 'Training data is not optional, it is foundational,' said Cook. 'Its importance spans all forms of AI. For Large Language Models, which depend on scale, diversity, and structure to function, it is absolutely crucial. Without standards and measurable quality in training data, organizations invite unquantifiable risk across the entire AI pipeline. Value in AI begins with value in the data.' Founded in 2023 by Cook and CEO Noami DeVore, The Training Data Project helps government and enterprise organizations navigate the complex intersection of data labeling, AI governance, and risk reduction. The company's mission is structured around a framework it calls TRUST: Transparent, Reachable, Unbiased, Standards-based, and Traceable data practices. Its work spans three primary pillars: defining quality and standards for training data, sharing best practices for cost-effective curation, and developing open source tools that support responsible AI deployment. From military applications to commercial AI systems, The Training Data Project offers a clear warning and a hopeful path forward. If organizations commit to data quality at the outset, they can unlock both innovation and measurable value while avoiding costly downstream failures. Media Contact: Name - Noami DeVore Email - [email protected]
Associated Press
42 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Curiosity Cube Debuts in Africa and Expands Global STEM Mission
After captivating students across North America and Europe with access to hands-on science, the Curiosity Cube from the Life Science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany has launched its first-ever tour in Africa. To celebrate the inaugural tour, the Curiosity Cube held a kickoff event on June 10 at the University of South Africa (UNISA) in Johannesburg. During the launch event, volunteers from UNISA and the Life Science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, guided a group of students through three interactive science experiments designed to spark interest in STEM. Mantile Lekala, Director for School of Science from UNISA, was excited to see such enthusiasm from the visitors, 'It was a privilege to witness the launch of the South Africa Curiosity Cube on our university campus today. This initiative opens the door to curiosity, discovery, and opportunity for a new generation of innovators, thinkers, and problem solvers, and we are proud to be a part of it.' This event marks the first of 12 planned events in Johannesburg and kicks off a broader tour that will span five countries in Africa. Through 100 events between June and November, the Curiosity Cube aims to reach over 15,000 students in Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia and South Africa. The expansion into Africa reflects the company's commitment to advancing STEM. 'Expanding the Curiosity Cube to Africa marks an important milestone,' said Jeffrey Whitford, Vice President of Sustainability and Social Business Innovation. 'The potential for the next generation of STEM minds is extraordinary. Our goal is to increase our impact in 2025 and beyond, creating more opportunities for the youth in Southern Africa to be curious and help support an environment full of the inspiration they need to pursue their dreams.' To learn more about the Curiosity Cube mobile science lab, visit and follow the Curiosity Cube on Instagram @curiositycube_milliporesigma. Visit 3BL Media to see more multimedia and stories from MilliporeSigma
