APOD: 2025 May 13 Б Gaia Reconstructs a Top View of our Galaxy
Explanation:
What does our
Milky Way Galaxy look like from the top?
Because we are on the inside, humanity canБt get an actual picture.
Recently, however, just such a map has
been made using location data for over a billion stars from ESAБs
Gaia mission.
The resulting featured illustration shows that just like
many
other
spiral
galaxies,
our Milky Way has distinct spiral arms.
Our Sun
and most of the bright stars we see at night are in just one arm:
Orion.
Gaia data bolsters previous indications
that our Milky Way has more than two
spiral arms.
Our
Galaxy's center sports a
prominent bar.
The colors of our Galaxy's
thin disk derive mostly from dark
dust,
bright blue stars, and
red emission nebula.
Although data analysis is ongoing, Gaia was deactivated in March after a succession mission.
Jigsaw Challenge:
Astronomy Puzzle of the Day
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
