How astronomers are mapping our Galaxy

Determining the structure of our Galaxy is fundamentally important to our understand of how galaxies form and evolve. Radio astronomers were first to map the spiral arms of our Galaxy in the 1950s, while recent infrared observations from the Spitzer Space Telescope have produced a new map that shows it to be a barred spiral with two main arms. Other techniques being used to survey the Galaxy include star counts and measuring chemical abundances and stellar speeds. Even greater advances are expected from the forthcoming astrometry mission Gaia due for launch in 2012 which will provide accurate star distances right to the centre of our Galaxy. This talk will provide an overview of what astronomers are doing, how and why.

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About Gerry Gilmore

Gerry Gilmore is Professor of Experimental Philosophy at the Institute of Astronomy, Cambridge. Originally from New Zealand, he has spent many years using ground-based telescopes and orbiting observatories to discover new features of the Galaxy. He is interested in applying our knowledge of the structure and history of the Milky Way Galaxy to understand how galaxies in general form and evolve. He is actively involved in ESAÕs Gaia astrometry mission and in planning for the European Extremely Large Telescope.

Gerry Gilmore's website