Scientists have managed to determine the outer boundary of the Milky Way for the first time – and it turns out it is closer than previously thought.
According to a new study, the edge of the star-forming region is about 40 light-years away from the black hole at the center of the galaxy. That means Earth is only about 13,300 light-years from the outer edge — much closer to the outskirts than the center.
Why was it so hard to find?
Contrary to popular belief, the Milky Way does not have a clear “end.” It gradually fades away, much like a city moving from a bustling center to quiet suburbs.
Scientists focused on the area where star formation continues – that is, where the galaxy is still "active".
How was the discovery made?
The team led by Karl Fiten analyzed the ages of about 100 stars. They found that stars get younger and younger the further away from the center, up to a critical point between 35 and 40 light-years away.
After this point, stars begin to get older again – a pattern known as the “U-curve,” which indicates the boundary of the region where stars are born.
What happens beyond this border?
Beyond this "edge," stars still exist, some even up to a million light-years from the center. But they were not formed there.
According to researchers, these stars were created closer to the center and gradually moved towards the periphery over billions of years through a process called radial migration.
Why is this discovery important?
Determining the galactic boundary helps scientists better understand how galaxies form and evolve. The inner region, where new stars are born, is very different from the outer part, where an older population of stars dominates.
This discovery provides a clearer insight into the 13 billion-year history of the Milky Way and the limits of its growth in the universe. /GazetaExpress/
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