helemon
17th August 2005, 08:22 PM
http://images.usatoday.com/tech/_photos/2005/08/16/milky180.jpg
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/space/2005-08-16-milky-star-bar_x.htm
The skinny bar is made up of old and red stars that is about 27,000 light years in length, about 7,000 light years longer than previously believed. The bar is at a 45 degree angle to the line between our Sun and the center of the galaxy and may put the Milky Way in a small class of galaxies with the unusual shape, researchers say.
"The stronger the bar the more influence it has on everything going on in the galaxy," said Benjamin.
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/space/2005-08-16-milky-star-bar_x.htm
The skinny bar is made up of old and red stars that is about 27,000 light years in length, about 7,000 light years longer than previously believed. The bar is at a 45 degree angle to the line between our Sun and the center of the galaxy and may put the Milky Way in a small class of galaxies with the unusual shape, researchers say.
"The stronger the bar the more influence it has on everything going on in the galaxy," said Benjamin.