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Even with only a momentary view of our galaxy proper now, the info we acquire permits us to reconstruct a lot of our previous historical past.
This illustration of our Milky Way reveals an historical galactic stream wrapped round our galaxy’s airplane at practically a 90 diploma angle: proof for a current and even ongoing merger in our galaxy’s historical past.
Key Takeaways
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When we glance out at our Universe, whether or not we glance in our personal Solar System, at stars and different objects throughout interstellar area, and even on the better Universe, we are able to solely get hold of a snapshot of how issues seem at this second. -
And but, simply as people can reconstruct our previous on Earth via historical past, archaeology, and palaeontology, scientists can reconstruct the historical past of our galaxy (and the Universe) via the same science: galactic archaeology. -
What’s exceptional is that it isn’t essentially simply the large, flagship-class missions and observatories, in area and on the bottom, that assist paint this image. Even smaller telescopes could make a distinction, and this episode tells you the way!
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Travel the universe with Dr. Ethan Siegel as he solutions the most important questions of all
When we glance out at our dwelling galaxy, the Milky Way, we’ve got to acknowledge that although it’s been rising and evolving for 13.8 billion years, we’re solely observing it as it’s proper now: a snapshot in time decided by the sunshine that’s arriving in our devices proper now. However, identical to we’re residing “proper now” in human historical past however can, via the science of archaeology, find out about historic occasions that occurred many hundreds of years in the past (earlier than recorded historical past) and even earlier, we are able to study in regards to the Milky Way’s historical past via the astronomical equal: galactic archaeology.
How do galactic archaeologists do it? They take a look at as a lot information as potential, throughout many wavelengths of sunshine, together with at many uncommon and obscure species of stars, in as many places as potential and to the best precisions potential all of sudden. By combining these totally different traces of proof, we are able to arrive at a coherent and compelling image for a way our little nook of the Universe grew up, together with by reconstructing the merger historical past of the Milky Way.
Surprisingly, it isn’t solely the “massive information” missions which can be contributing to this understanding, however even smaller, much less heralded (and extra accessible) telescopes, with the fitting gear and units of observations, could make a huge effect. Join us for this episode, the place astrophysicist and observatory director Elaina Hyde joins us, serving to us higher recognize the wonders of our personal cosmic previous!
Sign up for the Starts With a Bang publication
Travel the universe with Dr. Ethan Siegel as he solutions the most important questions of all
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