2007-05-01 14:54:20 · 10 answers · asked by jaque strap 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
We take pictures of space around us and determine what is too distant to be in our galaxy. The pictures of our galaxy from the outside are artists' depictions.
2007-05-01 14:57:48 · answer #1 · answered by Spilamilah 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is no overall, outside photo of the Milky Way. Through precise and time consuming mapping of stars inside this galaxy, it has been determined that the Milky Way is either a spiral galaxy or possibly a barred spiral galaxy---and, at your local convenience store, it's a candy bar. So, most of the time you see the words "Milky Way galaxy" along with a photo of a spiral galaxy, it is a photo of some other galaxy being used as an example to show what shape ours has.
2007-05-02 01:15:08 · answer #2 · answered by quntmphys238 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The same way you can live in a city and take pictures of the city from the center of the city. The Milky Way is not a solid, dark thing. It has stars and lots of space between them.
2007-05-01 21:58:56 · answer #3 · answered by cattbarf 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The pictures you see of the Milky Way are reconstructions based on the different observations in the visible light, radio waves, gamma rays, x-rays, microwave, and infrared spectrums from different instruments on and in orbit around earth.
Only some of our galaxy can actually be seen in visible light, but most of it is visible in the other wavelengths, so scientists can create a "virtual" image of what the galaxy would look like if we could see it all.
2007-05-01 21:58:55 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
We are about 2/3 of the way from the center to the edge. We can see most of the galaxy that is toward the center when we look that way and scattered stars when we look the other way out toward the edge.
2007-05-01 21:59:24 · answer #5 · answered by Michael da Man 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We can see it only edge on since we are in it. Any picture you see depicting it from the outside is just an artist's conception of what they think the galaxy might look like.
2007-05-01 21:57:59 · answer #6 · answered by Roman Soldier 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can have pictures of your home from inside.
You can have pictures of your town from inside.
Same thing.
In fact we see very little of it because of obscuring dust and gas clouds. Same as a picture of your town from inside is limited by the buildings in the way. (or a better analogy would be a picture of your town on a foggy day.
2007-05-01 22:04:25 · answer #7 · answered by nick s 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The pictures are taken from the inside, of course. Any pictures showing it from the outside are computer generated from data obtained from our inside views.
2007-05-01 21:59:21 · answer #8 · answered by Renaissance Man 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
satellites my good chap.
2007-05-01 22:02:42 · answer #9 · answered by seryanton 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
guesstamation
2007-05-01 22:04:41 · answer #10 · answered by SHELLTOE BISCUITS 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋