the Morgan Arboretum.
Within the forested reserve of the Morgan Arboretum in the West Island, you can find the observatory of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (Montreal Centre).
3 Spots to Stargaze Around Montreal
The Charlevoix Astroblem Observatory offers a host of activities related to astronomy and geology. It is possible to participate to astronomy/starry skyThe planetarium of Saint Félicien, located 5 minutes from downtown, offers unforgettable nights under the stars.
The Milky Way rises over Mont-Mégantic Observatory, Québec.
Below is a list of places that you can visit in India with family, friends, or colleagues and explore a sky full of stars.
Shooting stars can happen any night of the year, but this winter your best bet is early to mid-January. That’s when the annual Quadrantids meteor shower occurs. If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to see up to 40 meteors per hour. The peak will happen this year the night of Jan.
Grasslands National Park
Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan
The Grasslands National Park is optimal for stargazing, as it is the darkest dark-sky preserve in Canada.
Auroras are fairly frequent, but often near the northern horizon, in the Québec City area. The difference in latitude with Montreal considerably improves your chances of seeing one there.
Planets Visible in Montréal
| Planetrise/Planetset, Wed, Dec 7, 2022 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Planet | Rise | Meridian |
| Venus | Tue 8:16 am | Tue 12:33 pm |
| Mars | Tue 3:55 pm | Tue 11:50 pm |
| Jupiter | Tue 12:54 pm | Tue 6:50 pm |
Visible tonight, Dec 8 – Dec 9, 2022
| Mercury: | Until Thu 4:48 pm |
|---|---|
| Venus: | Until Thu 4:37 pm |
| Mars: | Perfect visibility |
| Jupiter: | Until Fri 12:28 am |
| Saturn: | Until Thu 8:59 pm |
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Stargazing is best when the Sun has set low enough below the horizon so that twilight does not affect observations. You should also avoid times when there is a bright Moon in the sky at night. With no twilight or Moonlight the Milky Way may be clearly visible (depending on the time of year).
Generally speaking, the best time to see the Milky Way is during the Milky Way season, which goes from February to October, usually between 00:00 and 5:00, and on nights with a new moon.
From Earth, it can be seen as a hazy form of stars in the night sky that the naked eye can barely notice. You can see the Milky Way all year, no matter where you are in the world. It’s visible just so long as the sky is clear and the light pollution is minimal.
May 30-31: Possible outburst of slow-moving meteors
Perhaps the most dramatic sky event in 2022 could come during the overnight hours of May 30-31 for much of North America, when our planet sweeps through a dense cloud of meteoroids expelled by the fracture of the nucleus of a small comet (73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3).
Stargazing for dim objects is best without moonlight
To see these deep sky objects well, the sky must be dark, free of light pollution and moonlight. The darkest skies will be around the new moon, when the moon rises and sets with the sun.
Stargazing for Beginners
Light is then dispersed by layers in the atmosphere and produces a glow that diminishes the darkness of the night sky. In large Canadian cities, more than 95% of stars that can normally be seen with the naked eye are no longer visible.
Using 11 million photometers from 44 of the darkest places, the study concluded that Roque de los Muchachos Observatory, also located in the Canary Islands, is the darkest place on Earth.
Banff National Park is, without a doubt, one of the best places to see the Milky Way in Canada. Located in the Canadian Rockies, this huge area, formed by other National Parks like Kootenay and Jasper, offers some of the best places where you can see the Milky Way in North America.
Montreal is too far south, so you can’t expect to see northern lights here on the regular basis. However, in case of a strong geomagnetic storm, it’s possible to enjoy the sight of lights dancing in the sky even in Montreal.
Mont Mégantic National Park
If you are looking for aurora borealis spots closer to Montreal and Quebec City, try Mont Mégantic National Park. Due to low light pollution, it’s an excellent place for stargazing with the observatory sitting on top of Mégantic mountain.
