Calculating the distance to the center of the galaxy
The purpose of this lab was to calculate the distance to the center of the galaxy. The information we concluded in Step 2 specifically the distance to M15 was crucial in determining the distance to other globular star clusters. ... The average “weighted” distance to the center of the galaxy is 6184. ... Unfortunately for astronomers, there are many factors that impede a simple calculation or observation of the distance to the center of the universe. For one thing, our system is on the plane of the galaxy, therefore our view of the center of the Milky Way is obscured by dust. For another thing, the center of our galaxy is so far away that even extremely luminous objects are too distant and appear dim and difficult to observe. M15, along with other globular star clusters, are outside of the dust plane, and they are believed to be located around the center of the galaxy.