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spiral arms

  • 07-11-2009 1:05am
    #1
    conchubhar1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,653 ✭✭✭


    when we look at the milky way (the visible streak) whoch arm or what are we looking at? (where are those stars located - are they on a spiral arm?)

    I read that in 2008 ish they found out there are only 2 spiral arms as opposed to four
    but
    in the pictures they showed there I can still see four spiral arms?
    :confused:


    Again - thanks in advance.


Comments

  • #2
    Kevster
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,980 ✭✭✭Kevster


    Im just going to reply here to get this post back up the list so that someone else can read it and reply! I don't know the answer, but want to know. I do know, however, that we ourselves are in one spiral arm, albeit the outer one. Therefore, we cannot actually view this arm directly but can only inferit's presence by studying distances to nearby stars.

    I think that the definition of a spiral arm is rather undefined too because as you get closer to the galactic core, the 'arms' must surely begin to merge and then which ones do you count as two arms (or three...?).

    Kevin


  • #3
    conchubhar1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,653 ✭✭✭conchubhar1


    Coolio.

    I really want to know the answer to this - curiosity is a ... :).


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