Humanity has been looking at the sky for a very long time and trying to solve the mysteries of space. Our exploration tools have continually improved since the first societies watched the stars, making it possible to see even deeper into space. A new study brings the universe we know to our fingertips.
Researchers from John Hopkins University have created an interactive map of the known universe by examining data from the Sloan Digital Sky Observatory over the past 20 years. This data, which was previously only accessible to scientists, has now become accessible to everyone with the published website.
You can fit the entire universe on a single screen
In the new interactive map, we have the chance to see the real positions and colors of 200 thousand galaxies. It is also possible to download this map, which can be visited online, to the device used.
Brice Menard, who created the map, stated that he was very impressed by the sky photographs in his childhood and he signed such a study to inspire new people. Saying that scientists have discovered new galaxies for years, the researcher also stated that no one had worked to create a map before.
The Sloan Digital Sky Observatory aims to explore space with the help of a telescope located in Mexico. The telescope at this station has been collecting data for years, focusing on a slightly different spot in visible space each time. ,
In a sense, the map opens a new door to understanding how big the universe is. Our galaxy, the Milky Way, is represented as just a single point on the entire map. Each of the 200 thousand points is home to billions of stars and many more planets than this number.
On the map, we see that the colors of the galaxies change as they move away. The different colored band at the far end represents radiation left over from the Big Bang, which is thought to have occurred 13.7 billion years ago. You can find the map here.