EARTH CLOSER TO MILKY WAY CENTER

 Hey Space Placers!

In AMERICA, I hope you have a SAFE AND HEALTHY Thanksgiving. 

Japanese astronomers have completed a new map of our Milky Way Galaxy that shows we are closer to the center of the galaxy and as a consequence are orbiting faster.

Position and velocity map of the Milky Way Galaxy. Arrows show position and velocity data for the 224 objects used to model the Milky Way Galaxy. The solid black lines show the positions of the Galaxy’s spiral arms. The colors indicate groups of objects belonging the same arm. The background is a simulation image. (Credit: NAOJ) 

According to the press release, "The map suggests that the center of the Galaxy, and the supermassive black hole which resides there, is located 25800 light-years from Earth. This is closer than the official value of 27700 light-years adopted by the International Astronomical Union in 1985. The velocity component of the map indicates that Earth is travelling at 227 km/s as it orbits around the Galactic Center. This is faster than the official value of 220 km/s."

Feel the rush? We're doing almost 500,000 MPH orbital speed! That's hauling the mail.

Sky Guy in VA