20140102

Why is Milky Way so faint?



Our Milky Way galaxy is about 100,000 light-years across.
Our Earth is located on an outer spiral arm of the galaxy.

In Earth’s Northern Hemisphere,
the Night Sky in December, January and February does not look as “hazy full of stars”.

That is because the Earth is facing out, toward the deep space, and we are gazing through
just 25,000 light-years of stars in that outer spiral arm --- seeing fewer stars.

In the summer months, the Earth is facing toward the center of the galaxy.   
We are looking across about 75,000 light-years of star-packed space.  That is the distance between us
and the other side of the galaxy.  So, the sky is “hazy full” with billions upon billions of stars.


return to:  Robert Howell Photography.com              

for more information drop me a line

"Keep Looking UP"

~~~Bob


No comments: