Publication

A panoptic view of our galactic ecosystem

2026

Abstract

A panoptic view of our galactic ecosystem This article explores the objectives and findings of the ERC Synergy Grant ECOGAL, which aims to enhance our understanding of the Milky Way. The Milky Way is far more dynamic than the calm band of light we see in the night sky. Our Galaxy is a vast system in constant motion, where gas flows across tens of thousands of light-years, magnetic fields guide matter through space, and exploding stars inject enormous amounts of energy into their surroundings. From this restless environment, new generations of stars are born.

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2026

Abstract

Official source

Related concepts (28)

Night sky

The night sky is the nighttime appearance of celestial objects like stars, planets, and the Moon, which are visible in a clear sky between sunset and sunrise, when the Sun is below the horizon. Natural light sources in a night sky include moonlight, starlight, and airglow, depending on location and timing. Aurorae light up the skies above the polar circles. Occasionally, a large coronal mass ejection from the Sun or simply high levels of solar wind may extend the phenomenon toward the Equator.

Star

A star is an astronomical object comprising a luminous spheroid of plasma held together by self-gravity. The nearest star to Earth is the Sun. Many other stars are visible to the naked eye at night; their immense distances from Earth make them appear as fixed points of light. The most prominent stars have been categorised into constellations and asterisms, and many of the brightest stars have proper names. Astronomers have assembled star catalogues that identify the known stars and provide standardized stellar designations.

Light-year

A light-year, alternatively spelled light year, is a unit of length used to express astronomical distances and is equivalent to about 9.46 trillion kilometers (9.46e12km), or 5.88 trillion miles (5.88e12mi). As defined by the International Astronomical Union (IAU), a light-year is the distance that light travels in a vacuum in one Julian year (365.25 days). Because it includes the word "year", the term is sometimes misinterpreted as a unit of time.

Related publications (1)

A panoptic view of our galactic ecosystem

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