2.08.2011

Largest 3D Map Of The Night Sky Ever Assembled


This is the largest 3D image of the cosmos that has ever been shown.  With over a trillion pixels, it would require over 500,000 high definition TVs to show in it's entirety.  According to David Shinga of New Scientist; "It is actually a collection of millions of images taken since 1998 with a 2.5-meter telescope at Apache Point Observatory in New Mexico. The project, called the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, is now in its third phase, called SDSS-III"

It's thought that this map will be helpful in understanding dark energy, which is believed to comprise 70% of our universe.  It has also helped scientists to discover tiny "dwarf" galaxies that orbit the Milky Way.


(Image: M. Blanton and SDSS-III)

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