How We Found Earth's Location in the Milky Way

One of the most commonly asked questions in astronomy is that if we can't leave the plane of our galaxy, how do we know where we live in the Milky Way galaxy? This journey of cosmic discovery, spanning over two centuries, is a fascinating tale of determination, innovative thinking, and scientific breakthroughs.

Created By and Written By: Rishabh Nakra
Narrated By: Brian Pederson

[Lot-]

Respect the brilliant minds who contributed to our understanding of the universe.

[brandonsmith]

It's crazy af to think about how big the universe is and how much stuff is out there. I wish we could travel through space faster

[RYN]

This is quality content. The universe is so fascinating I don't have the words to describe how truly epic it is.

[znlztvs]

Herschel was probably lauded as the genius of his time regarding studies of the cosmos. It's interesting to see how far we have advanced, technologically, and how much we have learned from his time to the present, a mere two hundred years. It only strengthens my belief that we are so far away from truly understanding the wonders of the universe, how it all began and how it is truly all woven together.

[RevolutionibusOrbiumCoelestium]

1:48 voyager 1 has only travelled 0.002 light years in the 45 years it’s been out there. Not the 0.02 ly as stated in the video.

[timeconstrained]

the more mysteries we solve about the universe, the more mind-boggling it all becomes.

[WhoLeeAnnita]

I like Brian Pederson's narration of this episode but, oh, I do love Jeffrey Smith's intro's questions! I love when he asks things and ends with... "Finally, and most importantly..." I miss that part. Thanks SOU for these amazing videos 🤩📡🔭💫🪐✨❤

[thwatergateplumber]

One of my biggest pipe dreams is to actually see a top down view of our galaxy. Perhaps it could happen a few hundred years down the road. Maybe not. But it sure would be great to see, and a coonfirmation of our true place among these various arms.

[Umski]

These scales still blow my mind - I discovered that we were merely in a galaxy of many others in 1997 at school when discussing something with my Physics teacher - watching Star Trek and the fact that even in fiction they were only pootling around the Milky Way just highlighted this further. Humbling in a way 😊

[theflyy]

Double props to H. Shapley. He realized that his supposition was incorrect, acknowledged it, and went on to study and confirm the facts.

That's actual science, and not consensus or outright dogma.

[brandoncontreras]

Really puts into perspective just how small we are in comparison to what's out there. The more I learn about how vast space is, the more fascinated, intimidated, and terrified I become.

[mycofairbanks]

I've been looking at stars for 46 years (since I was a kid). I love the new discoveries. Some of these things I already knew, like they are soo far away and space goes on forever. It is truly a wonderful existence we are a part of. I feel sorry for flat earthers. The can never appreciate the infinite, and are stuck in a tiny box like past astronomers. I personally know some (and you may too) so I can relate.

[FrankLukeAudiophile]

I love these documentaries on Universe and Cosmology. Very good content!👍

[finncarlbomholtsrensen]

In Denmark we also have a "real giant": Tyge (Tycho) Brahe, who in 1572 saw a "new" star, and wrote a book about it (De Nova Stella/The New Star). This is why an exploding and dying star is - still named a "Nova"!
He realized that the Universe wasn't as told but he could have been - burned by The Holy Church, at that time, for telling the truth, so he found an intermediate solution, with the Earth still as the Center, but it and the rest of the planets going round the - Sun! And, after his death, all his notes became the basis of his former pupil, Johannes Kepler's later construction of the planets movement as eclipses! The Nobleman, Tycho was very protective of his observations and knowledge, so it wasn't till after his death in his exile, Prag, that his "common" widow gave Kepler access to his papers! The new Danish King didn't want to pay for his exorbitant expenses, so he had to move from Denmark and found a new home in Prag, where he is also buried inside, and with a stone in the floor, in the Tejn Church/Tynsky Chrám.
The remnants of his "new star" is still to be seen in Cassiopeia.
But the Crater on the Moon which is named: "Tycho" is larger than "Copernicus", because the naming person liked the Tycho Brahe Version more than the Copernicus Version of the Universe! 😁

[IDTest]

I dont think you did justice to the question that you posed. After Shapley’s research indicating the direction of the centre you did a big jump to Spur of the Orion arm without any explanation. You did mention Gaia but we knew the location much before 2013.

[HansDunkelberg]

The image at 7:17 showing both the Andromeda Galaxy and our Milky Way is magnificent!

[CMONCMON]

Just imagine some time far in the future we will send a probe with a camera so far out and turn it around to face us and snap the first ever complete photo of our Milky Way galaxy. What a day in history that would be. And will probably be the greatest photo ever taken in Earth history

[TruthTF]

Very well done! However, one thing that's been bugging me is that it takes us on Earth ~19 - 20 hrs to communicate one way to Voyager. Which puts it at a distance of .002 not .02 light years from Earth... the size of the universe is mind boggling!

[dawnezone]

I am always completely in awe of those humans with the intellect, perseverance and faith to boldly go where no man has gone before....

[coldshot]

For centuries, scientists and astronomers have made breakthrough discoveries dealing with the size, shape, distance, composition, etc., of our galaxy and the universe. Every few hundred years, a discovery is made to disprove earlier discoveries. So, the truth is, what we "know" today could easily be disproven 100 years from now. It's all educated guesswork with few ways to prove or disprove anything. But, I love a good mystery.