Astronomers conducted an elaborate and sensitive survey of a large portion of the Milky Way galaxy using two of the world’s most powerful radio telescopes. They were able to detect previously unseen tracers of huge star formation, a process that controls galactic ecosystems.
GLOSTAR image, using data from both the VLA and the Effelsberg radio telescope, shows a segment of the Milky Way's disk, revealing previously unseen tracers of massive star formation. Image Credit: Brunthaler et al., Sophia Dagnello, NRAO/AUI/NSF.
The researchers integrated the abilities of the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) from the National Science Foundation and the 100-m Effelsberg Telescope in Germany to generate high-quality data that would facilitate scientists in the future.