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Chapter 21: Problem 3

Detailed observations of the structure of the Milky Way are difficult because a. the Solar System is embedded in the dust and gas of the disk. b. the Milky Way is mostly dark matter. c. there are too many stars in the way. d. the galaxy is rotating too fast (about \(200 \mathrm{km} / \mathrm{s}\) ).

Short Answer

Expert verified
a. the Solar System is embedded in the dust and gas of the disk.

Step by step solution

01

Identify the options

Read all the given options carefully: a) The Solar System is embedded in the dust and gas of the disk.b) The Milky Way is mostly dark matter.c) There are too many stars in the way.d) The galaxy is rotating too fast (about 200 km/s).
02

Understand the context

Consider what makes detailed observations of the Milky Way difficult. The challenge could be due to obstruction or interference from surrounding matter.
03

Analyze each option

Option a: The Solar System is within the Milky Way's disk, which contains dust and gas that could obstruct views. Option b: While dark matter is abundant, it doesn't obstruct light in the same way dust and gas do. Option c: Although there are many stars, they typically do not block views of other structures completely. Option d: The galaxy’s rotation speed might affect dynamics, but it doesn’t directly obstruct observations.
04

Select the best answer

The most logical reason for difficulty in observing the Milky Way's structure is due to the dust and gas within the disk where the Solar System is located. Therefore, option a is the most accurate.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Galactic Structure
The Milky Way is a barred spiral galaxy. This means it has a central bar-shaped structure made of stars and arms of stars spiraling outward. Our Solar System is located in one of these spiral arms, called the Orion Arm. The Milky Way is vast, estimated to contain around 100 to 400 billion stars. Understanding its structure helps astronomers learn about the formation and evolution of galaxies.
The Milky Way has three main parts:
  • Galactic disk: The flat, circular region containing most of the galaxy's stars, gas, and dust.
  • Galactic bulge: The dense, spheroidal mass at the center of the galaxy, composed mostly of older stars.
  • Galactic halo: A roughly spherical region surrounding the disk and bulge, containing older stars and globular clusters.
Each part of the Milky Way has unique features, and studying them helps astronomers understand how the galaxy works and evolves.
Interstellar Dust and Gas
Interstellar dust and gas are critical components of the Milky Way. They are found mostly in the galactic disk and play a crucial role in star formation. However, these substances can also make it hard to observe the galaxy.
  • Interstellar dust: Tiny solid particles, typically made from carbon, silicates, and other elements. Dust absorbs and scatters light, causing the dimming and reddening of starlight, which can obscure our view of the galaxy's structure.
  • Interstellar gas: Primarily hydrogen and helium, with trace amounts of other elements. Gas clouds, or nebulae, can block or obscure light from stars and other astronomical objects.
The concentration of dust and gas in the Milky Way's disk explains why detailed observations of the galaxy are difficult. This obstruction leads to challenges in getting clear images and understanding the galaxy's full structure.
Astronomical Observation Challenges
Astronomers face numerous challenges when observing the Milky Way. Some of these challenges arise from the very nature of the galaxy itself.
  • Obstruction by dust and gas: As discussed, dust and gas in the galactic disk absorb and scatter light, making it hard to see through the galaxy.
  • Interference from other stars: While not a major obstruction, the sheer number of stars in the Milky Way can sometimes make it difficult to isolate specific structures.
  • Technological limitations: Our current technology, although advanced, still has limits. For example, ground-based telescopes have to contend with atmospheric interference, which can blur and distort observations.
  • Distance: The Milky Way is vast, and many of its features are extremely far from us. Observing and studying such distant parts require powerful telescopes and often involve complex data analysis techniques.
Despite these challenges, advancements in technology and observational techniques continue to improve our understanding of the Milky Way. Astronomers use methods like radio and infrared observations to peer through the dust and gas, providing clearer images of the galaxy.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

A star is observed in a circular orbit about a black hole with an orbital radius of \(1.5 \times 10^{11}\) kilometers and an average speed of \(2,000 \mathrm{km} / \mathrm{s}\). What is the mass of this black hole in solar masses?

Parallax measurements of the variable star RR Lyrae indicate that it is located 230 pc from the Sun. A similar star observed in a globular cluster located far above the galactic plane appears 160,000 times fainter than RR Lyrae. a. How far from the Sun is this globular cluster? b. What does your answer to part (a) tell you about the size of the galaxy's halo compared to the size of its disk?

Where are the youngest stars in the Milky Way Galaxy? a. in the core b. in the bulge c. in the disk d. in the halo

Go to the websites of the two main groups studying the supermassive black hole at the galactic center: the UCLA Galactic Center Group (http://astro.ucla.edu/-ghezgroup/gc) and the Galactic Center Research group at the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics (http://mpe,mpg.de/ ir/GC). Watch some of the time-lapse animations of the stars orbiting something unseen. Why is it assumed that the unseen object is a black hole? What new results are these groups reporting?

How does the mass of the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way compare with that found in most other spiral galaxies? a. It is comparable in mass. b. It is much less massive. c. It is much more massive. d. Astronomers don't yet know the masses well enough to tell.
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