Brazilian astronomers propose new model of our galaxy

October 15, 2010

Brazilian astronomers have proposed a new model to explain the structure of our, the. The new model suggests that our galaxy may have one more than previously thought and that these arms are more straight than curved.

The astronomers, led by Jacques Lepine at the, used data from clouds of gas to develop their new proposed model.

In order to study the structure of the Milky Way, the astronomers studied created by  clouds, contrary to the common method of analyzing spectra from clouds of. This method was used in hopes of producing an accurate 'face-on' map of our galaxy.

The postulated extra arm, if indeed actual, will increase the number of known arms from two to three. Previously, in 2008, the number was changed from four to two. This new arm is estimated to be about 30,000 from the center of the Milky Way and is thought to have a "strong inward curvature".

The new model also suggests that our is in one of the straightest parts of an outer arm of our galaxy.