Observed (normal lines) and extrapolated (dotted lines) structure of the spiral arms of the Milky Way, viewed from north of the galaxy – the galaxy rotates clockwise in this view.

Dec 7, 2025 · The Milky Way Galaxy’s structure is fairly typical of a large spiral system. (Spiral galaxies and other types of galaxies are described in the article galaxy.)

Living inside the Milky Way gives us a close-up view of its structure and contents, which we can’t do for other galaxies. At the same time, this perspective makes it difficult for astronomers to …

Nov 8, 2017 · Using infrared images from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope, scientists have discovered that the Milky Way's elegant spiral structure is dominated by just two arms …

Jul 28, 2025 · Though it appears as a glowing band from Earth, the Milky Way’s true shape is a beautiful barred spiral galaxy. At its heart lies a dense, bulging core of stars. From this central …

The OGLE collaboration studied a set of over 2400 Cepheid variables in our Milky Way, measuring the distances to each one using the period-luminosity relationship. We believe that …

May 19, 2025 · To be more specific, the Milky Way is a barred spiral galaxy, which means it has a central bar-shaped straight structure composed of stars. This bar contains the galaxy’s …

In 1785, William Herschel (Figure 25.2) made the first important discovery about the architecture of the Milky Way Galaxy. Using a large reflecting telescope that he had built, William and his …

Jan 12, 2023 · The Milky Way is fully classified as an SBbc: a barred spiral galaxy with a medium-sized nucleus. Spirals are also described as “grand design” (two distinct spiral arms) or …

In 1785, William Herschel (Figure 25.2) made the first important discovery about the architecture of the Milky Way Galaxy. Using a large reflecting telescope that he had built, William and his …