Astronomers have created the most precise map to date of the Milky Way by tracking thousands of big pulsating stars spread throughout the galaxy, demonstrating that its disk of myriad stars is not flat but dramatically warped and twisted in shape. The researchers on Thursday unveiled a three-dimensional
1 / 5FILE PHOTO: A girl lies in hammock as she looks at the milky way during the peak of Perseid meteor shower in KozjakBy Will Dunham
The researchers on Thursday unveiled a three-dimensional map of the Milky Way - home to more than 100 billion stars including our sun - providing a comprehensive chart of its structure: a stellar disk comprised of four major spiral arms and a bar-shaped core region. Until now, the understanding of the galaxy's shape had been based upon indirect measurements of celestial landmarks within the Milky Way and inferences from structures observed in other galaxies populating the universe. The new map was formulated using precise measurements of the distance from the sun to 2,400 stars called"Cepheid variables" scattered throughout the galaxy.
The astronomers tracked the Cepheids using the Warsaw Telescope located in the Chilean Andes. These stars pulsate at regular intervals and can be seen through the galaxy's immense clouds of interstellar dust that can make dimmer stellar bodies hard to spot.
Singapore Latest News, Singapore Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
'Once Upon A Time' gives 1960s Hollywood the Tarantino twist'Once Upon A Time' represents an invitation into director Quentin Tarantino's memory and a play date with the toys of his childhood. This is not Hollywood as history remembers it, but Hollywood in Tarantino's own image.
Read more »
Christopher Meloni Talks That 'Handmaid's Tale' Twist'He’s constantly looking for something to conquer.' Chris_Meloni breaks down that HandmaidsOnHulu twist. HandmaidsTale
Read more »
Siren EPs Dissect that Big Finale Twist and Tease Season ThreeNeed help processing that crazy SirenTV Season 2 finale twist? AlexisKG spoke with the show's EPs about that, Season 3, and much more.
Read more »
After Years of Telenovela Twists, Jane the Virgin’s Mastermind Says Good-byeThe end of JaneTheVirgin was a glorious wash of tears and celebrations. kvanaren spoke with showrunner JennieUrman about Jane’s lovefest finale
Read more »
20 Movies With the Most Unexpected TwistsThese films had crazy plot twists we didn't see coming.
Read more »
Christopher Meloni Talks That 'Handmaid's Tale' Twist'He’s constantly looking for something to conquer,' Meloni says of the mysterious Winslow.
Read more »