23/07/2025
Chasing the Milky Way on Madeira
Capturing the Milky Way on Madeira is no easy task. The weather is wildly unpredictable—clear skies can vanish in moments, and forecasts are often more hopeful than helpful. Light pollution adds another layer of challenge.
Last night, I decided to try my luck. I left Funchal under mostly clear skies, the stars already whispering promises. Everything looked hopeful. But as I reached my final destination, rain began to fall—something I hadn’t expected at all.
I parked the car, and almost as if the island changed its mind, the rain stopped. I began my hike toward a darker stretch of coastline, facing south toward the ocean. The wind was fierce, but above me, stars began to shimmer through fleeting gaps in the clouds.
And then—there it was. The Milky Way, revealed in short, magical bursts. The gaps were narrow, the moment brief—only around twenty minutes of clarity before the sky closed again, veiled in thick cloud.
Still, sometimes a clear vision and a bit of determination are all you need to catch a glimpse of something extraordinary.