It appears that we are getting a
better confirmation of the nature of out apparent spiral galaxy.
As noted, out present knowledge
is speculation. This work has confirmed
the real existence of the other spiral arm that we had not seen yet.
This is neat work and shows us
just how much is out there to piece together.
Found - the missing arm of the Milky Way (but it's not a great location
for life)
Last updated at 11:47 AM on 28th October 2011
As we all know, when it comes to a good place to live, it’s all about
location, location, location.
Unfortunately, it looks like a newly discovered outer arm of the Milky
Way may not be the best place to find alien life.
It was discovered by two astronomers from the Harvard-Smithsonian Center
Newly discovered: Our galaxy's extension to Scutum-Centaurus is about
60,000 light years long. Much of the Milky Way is only assumed to exist
The new spiral lies at the end of the Scutum-Centaurus Arm, around
50,000 light years from the centre.
The discovery marks a huge leap forward in our understanding of the
Milky Way's shape. It may surprise you, but the beautiful symmetrical spiral
shape we see in pictures is actually pure speculation.
Huge amounts of interstellar dust blocks our view of the cosmos, so
astronomers have assumed its shape from what we are able to observe – which is
roughly half the galaxy.
This changed after Thomas Dame and colleague Patrick Thaddeus pointed
their surprisingly modest four-foot telescope on the roof of the CfA in Massachusetts
Spaced out: The popular symmetrical image of the Milky Way
They found a new section full of condensed molecular gas measuring
about 60,000 light years in length.
It represents a huge piece of the galactic jigsaw.
However, it may not be the best place for life to have evolved.
The University
of California
If life has evolved in the outer reaches, though – it could well be
billions of years in advance of our civilisation as the stars there are around
twice the age of the Sun.
I believe it is still speculation
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