Our Milky Way Galaxy's Core Revealed (Photos)

News
By Space.com Staff
published

VISTA Telescope Inside Dome

ESO

The VISTA telescope in its dome at Paranal Observatory. It has a main mirror that is 4.1 meters across, being by far the largest telescope in the world dedicated to surveying the sky at near-infrared wavelengths. Image released December 3, 2009.

Artist's impression of the Milky Way

NASA/JPL-Caltech/ESO/R. Hurt

This detailed artist’s impression shows the structure of the Milky Way, including the location of the spiral arms and other components such as the bulge.

Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: community@space.com.

Space.com Staff
Space.com Staff
News and editorial team

Space.com is the premier source of space exploration, innovation and astronomy news, chronicling (and celebrating) humanity's ongoing expansion across the final frontier. Originally founded in 1999, Space.com is, and always has been, the passion of writers and editors who are space fans and also trained journalists. Our current news team consists of Editor-in-Chief Tariq Malik; Editor Hanneke Weitering, Senior Space Writer Mike Wall; Senior Writer Meghan Bartels; Senior Writer Chelsea Gohd, Senior Writer Tereza Pultarova and Staff Writer Alexander Cox, focusing on e-commerce. Senior Producer Steve Spaleta oversees our space videos, with Diana Whitcroft as our Social Media Editor.