Our Milky Way Galaxy's Core Revealed (Photos)

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VISTA Telescope Inside Dome

ESO

The VISTA telescope in its dome at Paranal Observatory. It has a main mirror that is 4.1 meters across, being by far the largest telescope in the world dedicated to surveying the sky at near-infrared wavelengths. Image released December 3, 2009.

Artist's impression of the Milky Way

NASA/JPL-Caltech/ESO/R. Hurt

This detailed artist’s impression shows the structure of the Milky Way, including the location of the spiral arms and other components such as the bulge.

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Space.com Staff
Space.com Staff
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