News Space

Better view of the Milky Way

New evidence revises the known structure of our galaxy

By Ron Cowen

- More than 2 years ago

ST. LOUIS — Astronomers are in the midst of a Milky Way makeover. New maps, created using infrared and radio telescopes to peer through the galaxy’s dusty lanes, reveal some disarming information.

DISTANT TWIN Radio astronomers have found evidence for a far-side counterpart to the small, expanding gaseous spiral arm that connects to a bar-shaped concentration of stars at the center of the Milky Way.