MilkyWay Warp

[Blob]

While analysing the complex structure of the Milky Way, an international team of astronomers from Italy and the United Kingdom has recently derived the shape of the Galactic outer stellar disc, and provided the strongest evidence that, besides being warped, it is at least 70% more extended than previously thought. Their findings will be reported in an upcoming issue of Astronomy & Astrophysics, and is a new step in understanding the large-scale structure of our Galaxy.

An edge-on view of the ESO 510-G13 warped galaxy.
Courtesy of NASA

The disc of our Galaxy is made up of three major components: the stellar, the gaseous, and the interstellar dust components. The warping of the gas and dust component has been well established and documented. In particular, the gaseous component is known to be warped and to extend out to 25,000 parsecs (pc). In contrast, the true extent of this stellar warping is still being debated. Over the past years, there has been changing evidence of a difference in the warp amplitude between stars and gas. These studies have led to the idea that the Milky Way stellar disc is truncated beyond 14,000 pc from the Galactic centre.

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[czeslaw]

It seems very important, Blob.
I don't know if the mass of Brown Dwarfs is good established.
The dwarf galaxies in Magellan stream seems to be a gravitationally part of Milky Way axis.

[snabald]

So, the Milky Way is bigger than we thought... and warped?

[01101001]

Space.com: Milky Way's Warp Explained

Astronomers have puzzled over the Milky Way’s warped shape for nearly half a century but have been unable to provide a convincing explanation for what might be causing it.
[...]
The model indicates that as the Magellanic Clouds interact with dark matter, they create vibrations that cause the Milky Way’s hydrogen disk to oscillate. The overall effect is reminiscent of the edges of a tablecloth flapping in the wind, the researchers said.

Since many other galaxies are also warped, the researchers believe similar processes might explain their shapes as well.

[OptimusShr]

Our galaxy is certanly and interesting one.