The Milky Way being so clear to the naked eye is very rare, particularly for summer here.

I have never seen it so clearly on Long Island like this before.

What helped was a combination of clear skies, low humidity, and no interference from the moon. If it stays clear than tonight, Thursday, the Milky Way should be visible again, starting around 10 p.m.

Read: 10 Interesting Facts About the Milky Way

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