Erlangen 2026 – scientific programme

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EP: Fachverband Extraterrestrische Physik

EP 3: Astrophysics III

EP 3.1: Talk

Tuesday, March 17, 2026, 11:00–11:15, KH 01.019

mw-atlas: Towards the three-dimensional shape of the Milky Way Galaxy in Gas and Dust — •Fabian Polnitzky, Laurin Söding, and Philipp Mertsch — RWTH Aachen University

From our position inside the Milky Way, we have a unique vantage point which obscures the galaxy's overall shape. Despite decades of research, no definite answer has been found regarding its exact structure. In recent years, the focus has shifted towards three-dimensional spatial mapping of the galaxy, in comparison to two-dimensional observations of the sky, leading to the discovery of previously unknown features such as the Radcliffe Wave.

To construct these maps, we require new observational data, but more importantly, new statistical techniques that bridge the transition from two to three dimensions. A promising avenue for this is information field theory, which was successfully used to map the spatial distribution of parts of the Milky Way.

Components, that are mapped in three dimensions now, include neutral hydrogen gas across the entire galaxy and interstellar dust in the local neighbourhood of the sun. In my talk, I will provide an overview of the techniques used to create these maps, summarize our current understanding, and highlight what we know about them. I will also discuss how combining neutral hydrogen gas and interstellar dust can further improve our three-dimensional view of the Milky Way, by leveraging correlations between them.

Keywords: Galactic Astrophysics; Interstellar Medium; Interstellar Dust; Bayesian Inference