what is the 'nuclear bulge'?

Question

'nuclear bulge' of the Galactic Center, it something I read in an article about the Mayan Calendar and the year 2012 AD

I read about this when reading an article about the Mayan calendar and the Galactic Alignment in 2012

Answer 1

As the above answers state, the "nuclear bulge" is a thickening of the distribution of stars in the inner 6 thousand lightyears of the galaxy.

It can easily be seen with the naked eye, if it is dark enough to see the Milky Way---it takes up most of the constellation of Sagittarius. So the Mayans would have seen it, but it has nothing to do with the year 2012. The Mayans had an elaborate calendar, mostly concerned with the motions of the planets, where 2012 is the end of a long cycle. For them, a thousand years ago, this was far enough in the future that they didn't have to worry about it. That doesn't mean that we need to worry about it.

Answer 2

The nuclear bulge is the bulbulous mass of stars at the center of a galaxy. If you look at a galaxy, like ours, on its plane view, you'll see it isn't flat, but it actually has a bulge in the center.

Answer 3

Hi. It's a region surrounding the center of spiral galaxies where very old stars exist. I have not read of the Maya civilization being aware of it.

Answer 4

The nuclear bulge is the bulge in a man's pants when they get excited, nuclear style....

Answer 5

the central bulge seen in some spiral galaxies

here is an example

Answer 6

Is that what's in my pants? Whew, I was worried there for a minute.