Our galaxy

WillM · Jan 8, 2009

You may think this is a real stupid question but I'll ask anyway.  Many nights whenever I go outside to look at the stars I have always wondered whenever viewing at the Milky Way that it's a part of the many loops that make up the spiral effect of our galaxy.  The real question when I see the milky way from my vanage point in Northeast USA  "are we looking at the path that the Earth has already traveled thru millions/billions of years ago or are we looking the earth future neighborhood as we spiral around in the galaxy? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> William -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If You Don't Have Time To Do It Right The First Time .... When Will You Have Time To Do It Over? </div>

thnkrx · Jan 8, 2009

Traveling with the current loop, I think. Most stars tend to remain within the same spiral arm,I spent a fair amount of time looking over star catalogues that give galactic orbits for a great many stars.  Most have orbits that keep them within 10 or 15% of the same distance from the galactic core, but others...Sol has a couple of near neighbors that appear to be the stellar equivilent of comets: their galactic orbits take them from the utter emptyness of intergalactic space to within a few thousand parsecs of the galactic core.

MeteorWayne · Jan 8, 2009

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>You may think this is a real stupid question but I'll ask anyway.  Many nights whenever I go outside to look at the stars I have always wondered whenever viewing at the Milky Way that it's a part of the many loops that make up the spiral effect of our galaxy.  The real question when I see the milky way from my vanage point in Northeast USA  "are we looking at the path that the Earth has already traveled thru millions/billions of years ago or are we looking the earth future neighborhood as we spiral around in the galaxy? Posted by WillM</DIV> It's not a stupid question at all, it's quite a good one. Welcome to Space.com.To find the direction we are moving is hard for we in the Northern Hemisphere, since it is only rises a bit above the horizon. The direction we are moving in our orbit around the Milky Way center is in the constellation Vela. This time of year, it just peeks above the horizon about 2AM at my location here in New Jersey. To find it, you really nee to either know where due south is, or know a few constellations.It is due south, just above the horizon at 2AM. On the right is Canis Major, with the brightest star in the sky Sirius (which will probably be twinkling like mad dues to it's low elevation at the hour).To the left is a small (fist sized at arm's length) rectangular box of four equally bright stars, this is the constellation Corvus.Halfway in between, just above the horizon is Vela. The best time to visualize where we are is in the summer, when we can see the center of tha Galaxy. That is in the constellation Sagittarius, just to the right of what looks like a teapot. If you look at that in the summer, you will see the Milky Way rising high in the sky above it and to the left. If you face the center in Sagitarrius, stick your arms out straight to your sides, then twist your body so your left arm is aligned with the Milky Way, where your right arm points toward the ground is the direction the sun is moving in it's orbit.The Southern Hemisphere has a much better view.That's kind of a fun thing to do, I'll add it to my public programs at the NJAA observatory! I kind of do the same thing to demonstrate the ecliptic (the line in the sky that the sun, moon and planets move along) by pointing the top of my head at the north star, sticking my arms out, and spinning around.The public laughs a bit at me, but you know they will never forget

Hope this answers your questionMeteor Wayne <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id. I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function </div>

MeteorWayne · Jan 8, 2009

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Traveling with the current loop, I think. Most stars tend to remain within the same spiral arm,I spent a fair amount of time looking over star catalogues that give galactic orbits for a great many stars.  Most have orbits that keep them within 10 or 15% of the same distance from the galactic core, but others...Sol has a couple of near neighbors that appear to be the stellar equivilent of comets: their galactic orbits take them from the utter emptyness of intergalactic space to within a few thousand parsecs of the galactic core. Posted by thnkrx</DIV> I don't believe that is true. The spirals are density spikes, but the individual stars do not orbit at the same speed as the spiral. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id. I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function </div>

Boris_Badenov · Jan 8, 2009

Here is a map of the Milky Way Galaxy. An inset on this map shows how Sol System is oriented in relation to the Galaxy.This website is very helpful also. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <div align="center">. </div><div align="center">Never roll in the mud with a pig. You'll both get dirty & the pig likes it.</div> </div>

DrRocket · Jan 10, 2009

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>...I kind of do the same thing to demonstrate the ecliptic (the line in the sky that the sun, moon and planets move along) by pointing the top of my head at the north star, sticking my arms out, and spinning around.The public laughs a bit at me, but you know they will never forget

Hope this answers your questionMeteor Wayne Posted by MeteorWayne</DIV>WE WANT VIDEO !!!!! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

MeteorWayne · Jan 10, 2009

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>WE WANT VIDEO !!!!! Posted by DrRocket</DIV> Fortunatley for our collective eyes, most of the time when I do it (though not always) it's when the North Star is visible, i.e. it's too dark for video

<div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id. I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function </div>

kg · Jan 10, 2009

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'> The best time to visualize where we are is in the summer, when we can see the center of tha Galaxy. That is in the constellation Sagittarius, just to the right of what looks like a teapot.  Posted by MeteorWayne</DIV> This is a fantastic piece of sky to look at through binoculars or a telescope!

WillM · Jan 10, 2009

Wayne, Thanks for your response.   Unfortunately, it's been real cloudy here for the past few days.  I will take a look at it the next time on a real clear night.  I have observed what appears to be cluster of 7 stars thru the binocular whereas by nakedeyes it look like a little cloudy smyth in the middle of the night sky at high noon position if you are facing east.  For some reason, this cloudy spot has been mesmerizing to me since I was about 4 years old.  I'm in the hills of WV so I can imagine the air is a lot more crisp than it is in NJ.   Again, thanks! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> William -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If You Don't Have Time To Do It Right The First Time .... When Will You Have Time To Do It Over? </div>

MeteorWayne · Jan 11, 2009

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Wayne, Thanks for your response.   Unfortunately, it's been real cloudy here for the past few days.  I will take a look at it the next time on a real clear night.  I have observed what appears to be cluster of 7 stars thru the binocular whereas by nakedeyes it look like a little cloudy smyth in the middle of the night sky at high noon position if you are facing east.  For some reason, this cloudy spot has been mesmerizing to me since I was about 4 years old.  I'm in the hills of WV so I can imagine the air is a lot more crisp than it is in NJ.   Again, thanks! Posted by WillM</DIV> If that mesmerizing cluster is shaped like a littly tiny dipper, it is most likely the Pleiades. It is beautiful!http://www.naic.edu/~gibson/pleiades/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pleiades_(star_cluster) <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/8/10/68a7244b-4374-4e92-aac2-e40d8aaeeba9.Medium.jpg" alt="" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id. I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function </div>

dlee0708 · Jan 11, 2009

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>...I kind of do the same thing to demonstrate the ecliptic (the line in the sky that the sun, moon and planets move along) by pointing the top of my head at the north star, sticking my arms out, and spinning around.The public laughs a bit at me, but you know they will never forget

Hope this answers your questionMeteor Wayne Posted by MeteorWayne</DIV> Very funny but what an excellent demonstration. You are correct, they will always understand and remember, what an ingenious idea.

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