The first detailed 3d map of the inner workings of the Milky Way has revealed a peanut or figure eight shape. The Milky Way curls into a majestic spiral with a line of stars at the center known as the bar. In the middle of the bar a bulge pushes out vertically. Our solar system is incredibly simple to model compared to the inner workings of the Milky Way, where millions of stars and dark matter drift about in a endlessly complex cosmic dance. Yet a new, highly advanced, mathematical model has revealed that as stars go around their orbit and pass through the plane of the bar, they are pushed slightly upward until they form a bulging pattern. The orbits in between the bulge form a figure eight or peanut shape. This informations may seem inconsequential, but based on it scientists gain massive amount of information that help answer questions like how the universe was formed.
"It is hard to look back into the past of our galaxy and know what was there, but simulations can give us clues," explained Alice Quillen, developer of the model. "Using my model I saw that,over time, the resonanace with the bar, which is what leads to the peculiarly shaped orbits, moves outwards. This may be what happened in our Galaxy."
Read more here http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/11/131127110309.htm
I find it really interesting and fascinating that we are able to visualize and even model the Milky Way. Who knows what science holds for the future!
ReplyDeleteAshley Barnes 2nd
This is very intriguing. I'll look forward to learning what they find from this new model. Advancements like this are always fascinating to hear about.
ReplyDeleteNature and space is just the coolest thing ever. To see what's happening in it and be able to observe the intricacies of it is one of the most amazing things ever, in my opinion. Especially when you think that hundreds of years ago everyone thought that all the planets revolved around us.
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