Fossil Galaxy Discovered in Milky Way - Space Discovery

Journey into the Heart of the Milky Way


Source:  APOGEE, NASA, CalTech


Space Mysteries and Wonders

Astronomers have discovered a fossil galaxy buried deep inside the Milky Way.  They've named the fossil galaxy Heracles and believe that it collided with the Milky Way 10 billion years ago.  It is very large and accounts for 1/3 of the Milky Way's spherical halo.  So, why wasn't it discovered before now? Scientists say it wasn't discovered before because it is so deeply buried inside the Milky Way.  Highly advanced technology was utilized to make the discovery.

APOGEE Technology

Highly advanced technology known as APOGEE was used to discover the fossil galaxy.  The team, led by astronomer Ricardo Schiavon of the Liverpool John Moores University in the UK worked with data from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey's Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment, or APOGEE.

A Needle in a Haystack

APOGEE provided the scientists with 10 years worth of tracking tens of thousands of stars in the Milky Way.  It is capable of piercing the interstellar dust that obscures the Milky Way stars and brought the team deeper into the Milky Way than ever before.  They say finding Heracles was like finding a needle in a haystack.  The discovery of the fossil galaxy is yet another example of the mysteries and wonders that the universe holds.

Space Mysteries and Wonders 2020's

To preview journalist Edward Kane's recent book "Space Mysteries and Wonders 2020's", go to  https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B08D7SV3Z5&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_VBvUFb36NKDCW  I co-authored the book with Ed.


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