Astronomy View all facts Glossary Help| Astronomy View all facts Glossary Help |
| abstraction > mathematical concept > geometrical object > plane > galactic plane |
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| galactic plane comparison table | ||
| Subject | is a kind of | has definition |
|---|---|---|
| plane | geometrical object | |
| galactic plane | plane | The plane that contains the disk of the Milky Way. By definition, one direction perpendicular to this plane is called "above" or "north", and the opposite direction, also perpendicular to the Galactic plane, is called "below" or "south". From Earth, due Galactic north is marked by the north Galactic pole, which lies near the bright star Arcturus, and due Galactic south is marked by the south Galactic pole, which lies in the faint constellation Sculptor. |