Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. Although the Earth is round, our Galaxy appears truly flat. The Milky Way is a typical spiral galaxy with a central bulge and extended disk of stars. However, gas and dust within the disk obscure visible wavelengths of light effectively preventing clear observations of the center. Of course, the edge on perspective represents the view from the vicinity of our Sun , a star located in the disk about 30,000 light years out from the center.
Specific rights apply .