ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

Home → Space → Remote sensing

European Observatory (ESO) assembles 9 gigapixel image with 84 million stars

Mihai AndreibyMihai Andrei
October 25, 2012
in Remote sensing, Space
A A
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterSubmit to Reddit

RelatedPosts

Giant planet still forming around a nearby star could rewrite astronomy textbooks
Supermassive blackholes are giants from birth
Not one, but two yet to be confirmed Earth-sized planets could orbit in the outer solar system
Quasars “snack” regularly, instead of “feasting in one gulp”

The European Southern Observatory has captured and analyzed an image of the center of our galaxy which, if printed at normal resolution, would measure 9 x 7 meters.

Just a hint of how the picture looks like. The full picture has not been released yet.

The enormous 9 gigapixel image features the very center of the Milky Way and was created not to be a background for huge screens, but to help study and understand our galaxy. Roberto Saito, the lead author of the study which took the picture explains:

“By observing in detail the myriads of stars surrounding the centre of the Milky Way we can learn a lot more about the formation and evolution of not only our galaxy, but also spiral galaxies in general.”

Spiral galaxies like the Milky Way have supermassive black holes at their center; also, the more you go towards that area, you will find older and older stars, but studying those stars is difficult because of the copious amounts of dust. The ESO says the survey has revealed a large number of faint red dwarf stars, which make good exoplanet candidates.

All in all, this is the first time the Milky Way’s bulge has been cataloged like this, the effort showcasing ten times more stars than previous efforts – something which researchers believe will greatly help future studies.

The results were published in Astronomy and Astrophysics

Tags: exoplanetmilky waysupermassive black hole

ShareTweetShare
Mihai Andrei

Mihai Andrei

Dr. Andrei Mihai is a geophysicist and founder of ZME Science. He has a Ph.D. in geophysics and archaeology and has completed courses from prestigious universities (with programs ranging from climate and astronomy to chemistry and geology). He is passionate about making research more accessible to everyone and communicating news and features to a broad audience.

Related Posts

Astronomy

The James Webb telescope just found a planet by actually ‘seeing’ it

byMihai Andrei
1 week ago
News

Astronomers Just Found the Most Powerful Cosmic Event Since the Big Bang. It’s At Least 25 Times Stronger Than Any Supernova

byTibi Puiu
4 weeks ago
Andromeda Galaxy
News

New Simulations Suggest the Milky Way May Never Smash Into Andromeda

byJordan Strickler
1 month ago
Archaeology

Did the Ancient Egyptians Paint the Milky Way on Their Coffins?

byTibi Puiu
2 months ago

Recent news

Tennis May Add Nearly 10 Years to Your Life and Most People Are Ignoring It

July 4, 2025

Humans Have Been Reshaping Earth with Fire for at Least 50,000 Years

July 4, 2025

The Strangest Microbe Ever Found Straddles The Line Between Life and Non-Life

July 4, 2025
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Editorial Policy
  • Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
  • How we review products
  • Contact

© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Science News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Space
  • Future
  • Features
    • Natural Sciences
    • Physics
      • Matter and Energy
      • Quantum Mechanics
      • Thermodynamics
    • Chemistry
      • Periodic Table
      • Applied Chemistry
      • Materials
      • Physical Chemistry
    • Biology
      • Anatomy
      • Biochemistry
      • Ecology
      • Genetics
      • Microbiology
      • Plants and Fungi
    • Geology and Paleontology
      • Planet Earth
      • Earth Dynamics
      • Rocks and Minerals
      • Volcanoes
      • Dinosaurs
      • Fossils
    • Animals
      • Mammals
      • Birds
      • Fish
      • Amphibians
      • Reptiles
      • Invertebrates
      • Pets
      • Conservation
      • Animal facts
    • Climate and Weather
      • Climate change
      • Weather and atmosphere
    • Health
      • Drugs
      • Diseases and Conditions
      • Human Body
      • Mind and Brain
      • Food and Nutrition
      • Wellness
    • History and Humanities
      • Anthropology
      • Archaeology
      • History
      • Economics
      • People
      • Sociology
    • Space & Astronomy
      • The Solar System
      • Sun
      • The Moon
      • Planets
      • Asteroids, meteors & comets
      • Astronomy
      • Astrophysics
      • Cosmology
      • Exoplanets & Alien Life
      • Spaceflight and Exploration
    • Technology
      • Computer Science & IT
      • Engineering
      • Inventions
      • Sustainability
      • Renewable Energy
      • Green Living
    • Culture
    • Resources
  • Videos
  • Reviews
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Editorial policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.