Peering Past the Galactic Bar: Uncovering a Hidden Spiral Arm in the Milky Way
Simran Joharle and collaborators analyzed red clump stars near the Milky Way’s center using motion and dust data from the VVV survey. They found that one group of stars lies farther away and moves differently, consistent with Galactic rotation. Slightly higher extinction toward this group suggests it belongs to a spiral arm beyond the Galactic bar, providing new insight into the Galaxy’s hidden structure.
Tracing the Twists and Turns of a Galaxy Like Ours: What Simulations Reveal About the Milky Way's Dynamic Heart
This study uses a detailed simulation to explore the Milky Way’s structure, showing that spiral arms are dynamic, short-lived features shaped by gas flows rather than fixed patterns. The inner bar drives much of this motion, influencing where arms form and dissolve. These findings explain why the Galaxy’s spiral structure is difficult to pin down and suggest a more chaotic process behind star formation.
Unwinding the Light: A Deep Dive into the Shape and Brightness of Spiral Arms in Galaxies
This study analyzes the structure of spiral arms in 19 nearby galaxies, using infrared images to measure their shape, brightness, and width. The authors find that traditional models don’t fully capture the complexity of real spiral arms and propose a new, more flexible model. Their work improves how spiral arms are represented, helping us better understand galaxy structure and evolution.