Astronomical Research: Observing a galaxy similar to the Milky Way

Dr. Ashraf Shaker, head of the astronomy department at the National Institute for Astronomical and Geophysical Research, confirmed that the Southern European Observatory scientists have observed a galaxy similar to our parent galaxy in which our solar system is located, pointing out that what is new in the matter is not that it is similar to our galaxy, as many galaxies in the universe are similar to our galaxy also, like the Andromeda galaxy. Close to us, using the large radio telescope (ALMA), but what is new is that this galaxy is located 12 billion light years away from our galaxy, meaning that the image of that galaxy is its image 12 billion years ago from now, and as everyone knows, all galaxies formed simultaneously Directly after the emergence of the universe, and therefore this galaxy gives an image of our galaxy as it was at that time.

Dr. Shaker added that although spiral implants like our galaxy were not detected inside that galaxy, a rotating disc and a bulge of stars similar to the one inside our galaxy was observed, and this result in itself is an important scientific discovery as many scientists expected that the galaxies located at these far cosmic distances Very from our parent galaxy, its shape has not been organized yet, and it is not organized like the galaxies near us.

This discovery is due to the accuracy and depth of modern observations by the European Observatory team, and that previous observations did not reach to photograph the rest of the galaxies with such high precision.

Dr. Gad El-Kady, President of the Institute, confirmed that the institute has published researches of the same type of studies on the formation of galaxies across different distances, and many researches have been published internationally using the most recent data published globally, and many master’s and doctoral theses have been made for the Institute’s employees inside and outside Egypt.

Also, the institute had discovered a number of variable stars, which were registered in the name of the institute and the Kattameya Astronomical Observatory in international unions.

He stressed that in order to understand the universe around us and how galaxies were formed over different times, scientists need to increase observations directed at observing galaxies far from us with higher accuracy and detail, whether using radio or visual binoculars.

It is noteworthy that the institute owns the largest astronomical telescope in the Middle East and North Africa since 1964, and the establishment of the Great Astronomical Observatory is now underway in Egypt during the next four years, God willing, whose main mirror diameter will not be less than 6.5 meters and will be the only one in the Middle East. The institute selects the most suitable places for this telescope, and with financial and logistical support from the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and the responsible authorities in the state to complete this important project for the success of the Egyptian space programs and the integration of the system with the space agency.

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