Astronomers at the Ruhr-Universität Bochum have compiled the largest astronomical image to date. The picture of the Milky Way contains 46 billion pixels. In order to view it, researchers headed by Prof Dr Rolf Chini from the Chair of Astrophysics have provided an online tool ( http://gds.astro.rub.de/ ). The image contains data gathered in astronomical observations over a period of five years.
Using the online tool, any interested person can view the complete ribbon of the Milky Way at a glance, or zoom in and inspect specific areas. An input window, which provides the position of the displayed image section, can be used to search for specific objects. If the user types in "Eta Carinae", for example, the tool moves to the respective star; the search term "M8" leads to the lagoon nebula.
http://phys.org/news/2015-10-milky-photo-billion-pixels-largest.html
[Abstract]: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/asna.201211717/abstract
[Source]: http://rubin.rub.de/en/largest-astronomical-image-all-time
(Score: 3, Funny) by Gaaark on Thursday October 22 2015, @09:27PM
Down already? Cool!
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday October 22 2015, @09:38PM
Damn. I wanted to read the EXIF header on that picture.
(Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday October 22 2015, @09:39PM
Nah, I stuck my 46 billion atom cock in its asshole.
(Score: 3, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday October 22 2015, @09:55PM
Erm . . . did you forget how small atoms are ? That size cock, is only 0.00004 inches long.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday October 22 2015, @11:54PM
Atoms of what? The difference in radius between the smallest element and the largest element is nearly a factor of 10.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday October 23 2015, @12:54AM
(Score: 2) by jasassin on Thursday October 22 2015, @10:45PM
I came here to chew bubble gum, and make a joke about finally almost being able to fit my entire cock in a photograph. I guess I'll chew bubblegum.
jasassin@gmail.com GPG Key ID: 0xE6462C68A9A3DB5A
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday October 23 2015, @02:12PM
I really don't get why people are so obsessed with male chickens. ;-)
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday October 22 2015, @11:16PM
It was down before this story posted. Must be on a Windows server.