Astronomers Unveil Unprecedented Infrared Map of the Milky Way

In a groundbreaking achievement, astronomers from the European Southern Observatory (ESO) have released the most detailed infrared map of the Milky Way, featuring over 1.5 billion cosmic objects, SciTech Daily revealed yesterday.

Utilizing the VISTA telescope over 13 years, the team compiled 500 terabytes of data, transforming our understanding of the galaxy.

The map, which covers an area equivalent to 8,600 full moons, reveals hidden stars, moving celestial bodies, and distant clusters, including newborn stars and globular clusters. Notably, the infrared observations allow for the detection of cold objects like brown dwarfs and free-floating planets.

This monumental effort, part of the VISTA Variables in the Vía Láctea (VVV) survey, has already resulted in over 300 scientific publications. Researchers anticipate that the data will lead to further discoveries, as VISTA prepares for future upgrades, enhancing our exploration of the cosmos.