- BIST10011,722-2.89%
- USD49.45+0.05%
- EUR55.62+0.37%
- GOLD4,181.10+0.26%
- INTEREST37.00%-1.00
- BITCOIN81,619+0.29%
- October 18, 202612°
- BIST10011,722-2.89%
- USD49.45+0.05%
- EUR55.62+0.37%
- GOLD4,181.10+0.26%
- INTEREST37.00%-1.00
- BITCOIN81,619+0.29%
- October 18, 202612°
NASA's Chandra telescope reveals Milky Way's outer arms are farther away than thought
Astronomers using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and ESA's XMM-Newton telescopes have discovered that the Milky Way's spiral arms extend much farther than previously known. This finding may require fundamental measurements such as our galaxy's mass to be revised.
Astronomers have discovered that the Milky Way galaxy's spiral arms extend much farther than previously known. The discovery was made using data from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and the European Space Agency's (ESA) XMM-Newton telescope.
The researchers used rare and powerful gamma-ray bursts from distant galaxies. As the X-rays from these bursts passed through the Milky Way, they reflected off dust clouds, creating rings that could be measured with extraordinary precision.
Beatrice Vaia, the Italian doctoral student who led the study, said, "This is a way to directly measure distances to the Milky Way's spiral arms based solely on geometry." Vaia noted that other methods rely on assumptions about the galaxy's rotation, which become increasingly uncertain in the outer regions.
The team estimated that a dust cloud in the farthest spiral arm is about 3,500 light-years wide. Although astronomers have been aware of the Milky Way's arms for about a century, the fact that Earth is located inside one of them has always made mapping difficult.
Co-author Ilaria Fornasiero said that even small revisions in distances could affect fundamental measurements such as the galaxy's mass. Fornasiero said, "This could mean that astronomers need to revise their estimates of the galaxy's mass because it affects how far the arms extend."
The only drawback of the new technique is that suitable gamma-ray bursts are extremely rare. In the last 25 years, researchers have detected only a few bursts bright enough and in the right position to measure the Milky Way's spiral arms. Co-author Andrea Tiengo said, "We will continue to search for more."
Stay Updated with The Turkiye Times
Subscribe to be informed about special news, developments and announcements. We will keep you informed.
By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy
