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Response to Skidmore (Original post)

It might look like a strand of DNA? kentuck Jun 2013 #1
When you see the galaxy in the sky Drale Jun 2013 #2
So we are seeing the outer edge and not the center? Skidmore Jun 2013 #4
Its the outer edge Drale Jun 2013 #8
Depends on the time of year jberryhill Jun 2013 #12
Nicely done. wandy Jun 2013 #32
simulation of where the Sun is in the Galaxy looking down SteveG Jun 2013 #35
You are looking into the center. Which is blocked by a lot of star formation. Gravitycollapse Jun 2013 #38
I was always told laundry_queen Jun 2013 #3
http://science.howstuffworks.com/milky-way.htm jbond56 Jun 2013 #5
Yes. Our vantage point is "edge on" looking toward the galactic center. opiate69 Jun 2013 #6
Disclaimer: I'm not an astronomer. immoderate Jun 2013 #7
See this image: MineralMan Jun 2013 #9
It's not stars that block our view of the galactic center, its dust. opiate69 Jun 2013 #13
You're right, of course. MineralMan Jun 2013 #15
Yup.. at least until we get that warp drive figured out .. opiate69 Jun 2013 #18
I thought there was big ol' black hole in the center? ismnotwasm Jun 2013 #31
Right you are... opiate69 Jun 2013 #33
I can see my house, and me, right there! NYC_SKP Jun 2013 #14
Did you check the Galactic Street View? MineralMan Jun 2013 #16
Google! NYC_SKP Jun 2013 #23
Very cool! kentuck Jun 2013 #19
We are inside the Milky Way, so that's our perspective. longship Jun 2013 #10
What always gets me is that a lot of the stars we "see" are long dead and gone. Tierra_y_Libertad Jun 2013 #11
... and we can't see all the newly born stars yet. JustABozoOnThisBus Jun 2013 #22
Not necessarily so - at least if you're talking about naked eye stars.. opiate69 Jun 2013 #24
Ah, but to know that what you are viewing ocurred 2-4,000 years past does really bettyellen Jun 2013 #27
Agreed, wholeheartedly! opiate69 Jun 2013 #29
Yup, when you look at Andromeda Galaxy...aka messier 31 roamer65 Jun 2013 #34
Maybe a few, but not a lot. roamer65 Jun 2013 #37
Anything to do with space is cool. CrispyQ Jun 2013 #17
gen answer to thread- you are seeing multiple arms throughout the year. roamer65 Jun 2013 #30
A coincidence that you should ask this question today...we just got an upgrade... DreamGypsy Jun 2013 #20
We are about 26,000 light yrs for the center and about 100,000 light yrs from the edge. ladjf Jun 2013 #21
Actually the diameter of the Milky Way is 100 to 120 K light years... DreamGypsy Jun 2013 #28
This message was self-deleted by its author CrispyQ Jun 2013 #25
This has all the pertinent details Cronus Protagonist Jun 2013 #26
We are viewing the galaxy from one of the spiral arms. The brightest spot is the center... Gravitycollapse Jun 2013 #36
In July, look south to the constellation Sagittarius "The teapot". roamer65 Jun 2013 #41
A fine candy choice. Chocolate, caramel and something sort of fluffy yet solid. DonRedwood Jun 2013 #39
This message was self-deleted by its author Katashi_itto Jun 2013 #40
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