Galactic structure
The Galactic Warp
The outer disc of the Milky Way is not flat but bent, curving up on one side and down on the other like a vinyl record left in the sun. This warp, traced by gas and by young stars, is likely stirred by the gravitational tug of the Magellanic Clouds and the dark-matter halo.
Galaxy, objects & concepts
Knowledge connections
- Associated withThe Milky Way
- Associated withSatellite Galaxies & Accretion
Sources
The primary and reference sources this topic draws on.
- NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration
Mission data, planetary science, space telescopes, and public-domain imagery.
Most NASA-produced imagery is in the public domain; individual items are checked for usage terms before publication.