Often in popular science programs a description of our galaxy, the Milky Way, is given as some preface to an Earth related matter of astronomy. Most recently I heard a speaker give a partial, albeit incomplete, description of the Milky way that was accurate inasfar as it was the view from above/below whein one see the spiral arms.
Without going on to clarify that from the edge-on view the Milky Way has a bulge in the center and the 'arms' thin considerably the further they get from the center, the speaker went on then talking about the 'galactic plane'. The lecture criticizing aside, I heard the statement that our solar system is about to cross the galactic plane, and I haven't turned up any bona fide links yet to confirm that.
Now I best clarify
, so the galactic plane is the imaginary plane projected through the galactic center and parallel to the galactic equator, our solar system is out near the edge of an arm/spoke and rotating around the galactic center, while at the same time moving up and then down across the galactic plane. (I will post the periodicity of those movements as soon as I find them.
)So, a Brotherly Biscuit of gratitude for any and all who can find a bona fide link that establishes our current position and direction in relation to the Milky Way's galactic plane.
(I'm still looking myself of course.
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