AaS! 218: How Do We Know What the Milky Way Looks Like?

Why is it so hard to get a picture of the Milky Way? How much of our galaxy have we mapped? What the heck is a “barred spiral” and what does that have to do with our core? I discuss these questions and more in today’s Ask a Spaceman! This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/spaceman and get on your way to being your best self. Visit BetterHelp to get 10% off your first month! Support the show: }http://www.patreon.com/pmsutter All episodes: }http://www.AskASpaceman.com Follow on Twitter: }http://www.twitter.com/PaulMattSutter Read a book: }http://www.pmsutter/book Keep those questions about space, science, astronomy, astrophysics, physics, and cosmology coming to #AskASpaceman for COMPLETE KNOWLEDGE OF TIME AND SPACE! Big thanks to my top Patreon supporters this month: Justin G, Chris L, Barbara K, Alberto M, Duncan M, Corey D, Naila, John S, Joshua, Scott M, Rob H, Louis M, John W, Alexis, Erin J, Gilbert M, Valerie H, Tim R, Mark R, Alan B, Craig B, Mark F, Richard K, Maureen R, Stace J, Stephen S, Stephen J, Joe R, David P, robert b, Sean M, Tracy F, Sarah K, Ryan L, Ella F, Sarah K, Richard S, Sam R, Thomas K, James C, Syamkumar M, Homer v, Mark D, Bruce A, Steven M, Bill E, Tim Z, Linda C, Aissa F, Marc H, Scott M, Avery P, Farshad A, Michael W, Kenneth D, Gary K, Paul G, David W, dhr18, Ron D, Lode S, Alyssa K, Roger, Bob C, Simon G, Red B, Stephen A, James R, Robert O, Lynn D, Allen E, Michael S, Jordan, Reinaldo A, Jessica M, Patrick M, Amy Z, Sheryl, John G, David W, Jonathan S, Sue T, Josephine K, Chris, Jules R, P. S, Michael S, Erlend A, and James D! Thanks to Cathy Rinella for editing. Hosted by Paul M. Sutter.