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Science, Space

Cosmic Beacons Reveal the Milky Way’s Ancient Core

by Press on April 27, 2016

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Cosmic beacons — The plane of our Galaxy as seen in infrared light from the WISE satellite. The bulge is a distinct component in the central part of the Galaxy, and rotates cylindrically. An ancient population, which does not exhibit cylindrical rotation, has been detected in the inner Milky Way. This population is estimated to be 1% of the mass of the bulge, and is likely to have been one of the first parts of the Milky Way to form. (Credit: NOAO/AURA/NSF/AIP/A. Kunder)