Milky Way mapped from above....

[Dr Mordrid]

Recent mapping shows the central portion of our Milky Way galaxy is not circular or even elliptical; we live in a BARRED galaxy!



Not only that, but the bar is some 27,000 light year long and lays at an angle of 45 degrees to the main plane of the galaxy proper.

There is also a supermassive black hole near the center of approximately 2.6 million solar masses.

Dr. Mordrid

[cjolley]

Neeto!
Links?

[Dr Mordrid]

http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/050816_milky_way.html

http://www.firstscience.com/site/articles/mystery.asp

Dr. Mordrid

[Lizzard[MPE]]

any ideas about something happening this week with the stars? mom keeps telling me to look it up, but im not sure where to start as she has no idea whats taking place.

[Jessterw]

There is the Perseid meteor shower that started last week and lasts for about two weeks, if I'm not mistaken. Not sure if you can still see it.

[Wombat]

There is the Perseid meteor shower that started last week and lasts for about two weeks, if I'm not mistaken. Not sure if you can still see it.

Got a good view of it Friday night, from a low-light-pollution 8500 ft. Gorgeous.

[Jessterw]

Yeah, got a decent peek Friday as well, though there was too much light in the surrounding area to call it a good view.

[Rakido]

Milky Way from above? Here you go ...

[ayoub_ibrahim]

Milky Way from above? Here you go ...

LOL, that's exactly what I was thinking when I saw this thread.