The Milky Way ~ Earth Sky News

[Julie]

This is the center of our galaxy, the Milky Way. But where is the center of the universe? Infrared image via NASA/ JPL-Caltech/ Susan Stolovy (SSC/ Caltech) et al.

Where is the center of the universe? We live in an expanding universe. It's a concept that seems graspable at first, but can quickly become baffling. For instance, you might intuitively think an expanding universe must be growing from a central point. But, as far as our current understanding goes, that's not the case. The universe wasn't created like an exploding firework, with galaxies flying out in all directions from a Big Bang. In reality, the Big Bang didn't happen in a single spot. And it's not so much the galaxies that are moving away from each other. It’s the space between galaxies – the fabric of the universe itself – that’s ever-expanding as time goes on, carrying the galaxies farther apart. Read more about why there is no center of the universe. Today's livestream: Wow! There's a nova or 'new star' in the sky! Astronomers spotted a "new star" – a nova – in the southern constellation Lupus the Wolf on June 12. Previously far too faint to see without magnification, this star is now just about visible to the unaided eye and easy to spot in binoculars. What causes a nova? EarthSky's Deborah Byrd and veteran stargazer Bob King will tell all at 12:15 p.m. CDT (17:15 UTC) today. Watch here.