What phenomenon causes visible light observations of spiral structures to be obscured?
Answer
Massive clouds of interstellar dust concentrated in the structures.
Studying the spiral arms using visible light presents significant challenges due to the physical material contained within these arms. The Sagittarius Arm, like other spiral structures, harbors extensive clouds of interstellar dust. This dust effectively absorbs and scatters visible light coming from stars located behind it. This absorption creates distinct features known as dark lanes that interrupt or completely obscure the view of the brighter stars and nebulae situated deeper within the structure or further beyond it.
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What Is The Sagittarius Arm Of The Milky Way? - Physics Frontier
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