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What Galaxy am I in?
Posted: Wed May 29, 2013 5:07 pm
by MacTexan49
Just a general comment. It would be nice if in addition to telling us how many light years away these objects are but also whether or not they are within our Milky Way Galaxy.
It adds perspective.
Thanks
Re: What Galaxy am I in?
Posted: Wed May 29, 2013 5:23 pm
by neufer
MacTexan49 wrote:
Just a general comment. It would be nice if in addition to telling us how many light years away these objects are but also whether or not they are within our Milky Way Galaxy.
It adds perspective.
If the APOD does
NOT mention another galaxy it will almost
always be within our Milky Way Galaxy.
[Possible exception:
http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap120710.html ]
Re: What Galaxy am I in?
Posted: Wed May 29, 2013 7:27 pm
by BMAONE23
http://www.atlasoftheuniverse.com/galaxy.html
The MW galaxy is about 100,000 ly accross. We sit approx 25,000 ly from one edge and so are 75,000 ly from the opposite edge. The Sagittarius Dwarf is the closest neighboring galaxy and sits 70,000 ly from earth. The next closest galaxies are the Dwarf Magellanic Clouds with the LMC being 163,000 ly away and the SMC being about 200,000 ly distant.
It is therefore likely safe to assume if the distance given is less than 70K ly it is in the MW galaxy