Want to see the Milky Way? Here’s when you can view it in the Myrtle Beach, SC, area
The night sky has offered South Carolina residents a number of amazing sights so far this year, including the northern lights, launches of SpaceX satellites and a solar and lunar eclipse.
And now, Myrtle Beach area residents will have another celestial opportunity this summer. The months of July and August are the best time of the year to see the Milky Way without a telescope, according to LiveScience, a popular science website. The Milky Way galaxy consists of several hundred billion stars, including our sun.
If the skies are clear, it’s possible to see those stars in the southern sky right after sunset. You also need a moonless night, which is why now, during the new moon, is a good time to try to see the Milky Way. That’s when the skies are darkest throughout the year.
According to LiveScience, the best times this summer to see the Milky Way are through July 8, July 28 through Aug. 7 and Aug. 26 through Sept. 6.
Ian Hewitt, president of the Grand Strand Astronomers Club and an astronomy professor at Coastal Carolina University, said this summer is a good time to see the Milky Way.
However, finding a good spot in the Myrtle Beach area could be challenging. Horry County doesn’t have any major urban cities, but we do have light pollution, which can affect what you see in the night sky.
Hewitt suggests going further south or west in Horry County to get out to where it may be darker. He said downtown Myrtle Beach or Conway are not good options for viewing because of the city lights.
On a really good night, assuming the weather cooperates, stargazers could also see the galaxy from the beach if they look to the south, Hewitt said.
Hewitt suggests checking the cloud forecast by looking at the astronomical forecast, which is different from a general weather forecast. “You don’t want any clouds,” he said.
Hewitt said such sites as Clearoutside.com or Astropheric.com offer viewing conditions for astronomers.
Hewitt also suggests Hampton State Park, where members of the Grand Strand Astronomers Club usually do their stargazing. Although it’s a little more than an hour away from Myrtle Beach, Hewitt said it’s “reasonably dark and when the moon is not up, you can make out the Milky Way with the naked eye pretty easily.”
Here are some good spots along the Grand Strand to view the stars:
Playcard Environment Education center, off Highway 19 in Loris. It sits on more than 200 acres in the northwestern part of Horry County and offers outdoor education programs. It at times has offered stargazing events.
Huntington Beach State Park in Murrells Inlet. This state park is along the Atlantic Ocean but is far enough away from hotels and homes to provide a nice sky view.
Pawleys Island. The centuries-old community is about 35 minutes south of Myrtle Beach. A good spot that has few homes and no hotels is on the far south end of the island.
