Which specific, bright star-forming region was used as a beacon to measure the distance to the Perseus Arm?
Answer
W3OH
International astronomers used the methanol maser source known as W3OH, located within the Perseus Arm, to achieve highly precise distance measurements.
Related Questions
Where is the Sun located within the Milky Way's structure?What was the consensus estimate for the distance to the Perseus Arm before modern radio astronomy revised it?Which specific, bright star-forming region was used as a beacon to measure the distance to the Perseus Arm?What highly accurate measurement technique, employing the VLBA, allowed astronomers to drastically revise the distance to W3OH?Approximately how far away was the W3OH region determined to be following the revised VLBA observations?What specialized instrument network was responsible for achieving the necessary angular resolution for the distance refinement?What specific observation regarding the motion of W3OH complicated older distance calculations?What classification difference exists regarding the prominence of the Perseus Arm?Why are spiral arms like the Perseus Arm generally rich in stellar activity?What famous supernova remnant, observed in 1054, is listed as a deep sky target within the Perseus Arm?