What the new model tells us about the shape of the Milky Way

Outer region may be warped by 4,500 light years from the galactic plane

60,000 light years

The sun

Our region of the disc is about 500 light years thick

Cepheids

Young pulsating supergiant stars used to determine the shape of the galaxy

Near the edge the disc is more than 3,000 light years thick

Near the edge the disc is more than 3,000 light years thick

Outer region may be warped by 4,500 light years from the galactic plane

Our region of the disc is about 500 light years thick

The sun

Cepheids Young pulsating supergiant stars used to determine the shape of the galaxy

120,000 light years