MAP OF THE MILKY WAY

1 Zone of Avoidance

This mysterious region lies on the opposite side of the hub from our Solar System and is largely unknown. As well as features of the Milky Way, it also conceals galaxies in the space beyond.

2 SagDEG

Discovered in

1994 as an unusual concentration of stars, the Sagittarius Dwarf Elliptical Galaxy is a small galaxy in the process of being torn to shreds by the Milky Way’s gravity.

3 Scutum–Centaurus Arm

This major spiral arm emerges from the near end of the galaxy’s central bar, but lies largely on the opposite side of the hub from our Solar System.

4 Sagittarius A*

The supermassive black hole at the centre of our galaxy weighs more than 4 million Suns, but only gives its presence away through X-ray and radio emissions.

5 5-kpc ring

This ring of stars, gas and dust is thought to be the biggest and brightest centre of star formation within our home galaxy.

6 Galactic hub

The central bulge of the Milky Way is roughly 8,000 light years in diameter and dominated by tightly packed red and yellow stars.

7 You are here

Our Solar System lies roughly 26,000 light years away from the galactic centre, about halfway between the hub and the galaxy’s visible edge. Here, the Sun orbits the centre every 200 million years.

8 Galactic halo

The halo region above and below the galaxy’s flattened disc is home to stray ancient stars and globular clusters – huge balls of long-lived red and yellow stars.

9 Perseus Arm

This major arm emerges on the far side of the central bar and wraps its way around the opposite side from the hub as seen from Earth. It contains many of the rich starfields and nebulae seen in the northern Milky Way.

10 Carina Sagittarius Arm

This minor arm runs in front of both the Scutum-Centaurus arm and the galactic hub as seen from Earth. It contains some of the richest starfields and most impressive nebulae in the sky.