Posted on 06/06/2008 12:25:31 AM PDT by bd476
Illustration Credit:
R. Hurt (SSC), JPL-Caltech, NASA
Survey Credit: GLIMPSE
Explanation:
Gazing out from within the Milky Way, our own galaxy's true structure is difficult to discern.
But an ambitious survey effort with the Spitzer Space Telescope now offers convincing evidence that we live in a large galaxy distinguished by two main spiral arms (the Scutum-Centaurus and Perseus arms) emerging from the ends of a large central bar.
In fact, from a vantage point that viewed our galaxy face-on, astronomers in distant galaxies would likely see the Milky Way as a two-armed barred spiral similar to this artist's illustration.
Previous investigations have identified a smaller central barred structure and four spiral arms.
Astronomers still place the Sun about a third of the way in from the Milky Way's outer edge, in a minor arm called the Orion Spur.
To locate the Sun and identify the Milky Way's newly mapped features, just place your cursor over the image.
Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
NASA Official: Phillip Newman Specific rights apply.
NASA Web Privacy Policy and Important Notices
A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
It's very much worth the time it takes to click on the link, then click on the photo at the site which will enlarge it.
Ping to an astonishing picture of the Milky Way with labels showing distance. If you click over to the site, you can enlarge the photo. It's absolutely beautiful!
pls add me to the ping list. Tks!
Sure, MomMD. While I don't have a formal one for astronomy but maybe it's time to start one. :)
It just boggles the mind.
Location, location, location...
That huge central bar is comprised of what? It’s so big and bright that I would think we should be able to see it, unaided, from right here on earth-—can we?
Galatic center in infrared wavelength. image is from wikipedia and says that 10 million stars are located within that field. (keep in mind this is infrared wavelength and you would not see this with the naked eye even from a telescope.)
There isn't a pin on the map saying, "You are here."
This young man thinks of beauty in the natural world as not having people in it. There is not a single human being in that entire set of images. This young man thinks of the creation as the natural world without man, forgetting that God's highest creation, set to be the ruler of the earth (Genesis 1:28), is man himself.
I think you read too deeply into that video. Man is Gods crowning creation to be sure...but I am willing to bet my life the person who put that together had zero intention of failing your expectations as to what the video should have had in it...just put in the beauty of creation to the song, and according to the words he did not miss a thing.
Not a bit. That problem is everywhere. You'll see it on the cubicle walls where people post images to make themselves feel better about their loss of connection with the land.
That connection was to be re-established every seven years with the Shemitta year in Leviticus 25.
just put in the beauty of creation to the song,
Right. His idea of beauty didn't include people.
You can see some of it, depending where your viewing location is. You need a really dark location, and you need to look at the area between the constellations Saggitarius and Scorpio...that's where the galactic "center" of our Milky Way can be found. Looking at this area with a small telescope, or even a pair of binoculars is stunning, to say the least.
If you’re into astronomy and cosmology at all, and you haven’t read it yet,
read “Privileged Planet”.
We are located in a very specific spot in the universe that allows us to live in it and discover it.
Orion Spur, Sagittarius Arm. You are here.
I'm very busy right now, writing another book that has to be done this summer.
There’s a DVD video that has a condensed version of the book.
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