Measure the torsion of the Milky Way

2019/02/05 Etxebeste Aduriz, Egoitz - Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Astronomia

Through a 3D map of the Milky Way, Chinese and Australian scientists have measured the twisting of the galaxy. It has been released in the journal Nature Astronomy.

The map has been made by measuring the distances to the stars. Cefeids have 20 times more mass than the Sun and are 1,000 times brighter. Due to their characteristics, the distance to which they are located can be measured with great precision. On the 3D map 1,339 ampheids have been placed. In addition, they have verified that the gas disc of the Milky Way totally coincides with the distribution of ampheids.

The map clearly shows that the Milky Way is taking the shape of a twisted S as it moves outward. The researchers have concluded that this form is probably due to the rotational forces caused by the large internal mass of the disk.