ESO's VISTA Telescope Unveils Most Detailed Infrared Map of Milky Way

The new map, created from 13 years of data, reveals over 1.5 billion objects and transforms our understanding of the galaxy.

The map was produced using the VISTA telescope at the Paranal Observatory in Chile, capturing data from 2010 to 2023.
Researchers collected 500 terabytes of data, covering an area equivalent to 8,600 full moons and showcasing nebulae, globular clusters, stars, and brown dwarfs.
The infrared capability of VISTA’s VIRCAM instrument allowed scientists to see through dust and gas, revealing hidden regions of the Milky Way.
Significant discoveries include a more accurate map of the galaxy's inner region and identification of fast-moving stars near the central supermassive black hole.
The comprehensive dataset is expected to serve as a foundation for future scientific discoveries and is publicly available on the ESO website.