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Like early explorers mapping the continents of our globe, astronomers are busy charting the spiral structure of our galaxy. 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. Previously, our galaxy was thought to possess four major arms. This artist's concept illustrates the new view of the Milky Way presented in St. Louis at the 212th American Astronomical Society meeting.

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

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