Random Astronomy Pictures OTD<p>APOD from 2025-05-13</p><p>Gaia Reconstructs a Top View of our <a href="https://mastodon.bot/tags/Galaxy" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Galaxy</span></a></p><p>Using Gaia mission data, a map of the Milky Way shows its spiral arms and bar. Our Sun resides in the Orion arm. The galaxy's colors come from dust, blue stars, and red nebulae. Gaia's mission ended in March.</p><p>HD image at <a href="https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250513.html" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250513.ht</span><span class="invisible">ml</span></a></p>