Wolfram Function Repository

Instant-use add-on functions for the Wolfram Language

Function Repository Resource:

 MilkyWayPlot3D

Source Notebook

Plot the position of astronomical objects within or near the Milky Way galaxy

Contributed by: Jeff Bryant

ResourceFunction["MilkyWayPlot3D"][]

represents a three-dimensional graphical image showing the Milky Way galaxy with the Sun included as a reference point.

ResourceFunction["MilkyWayPlot3D"][entities]

represents a three-dimensional graphical image showing the Milky Way galaxy with the Sun and the specified entities labeled.

Details and Options

Valid domains for entities or entity classes can be from any of "Planet", "PlanetaryMoon", "MinorPlanet", "Comet", "Exoplanet", "Star", "StarCluster", "Nebula", "Galaxy", "Supernova", "Pulsar" or "AstronomicalRadioSource".
Entities more than 125,000 light years from Earth are automatically ignored.

Examples

Basic Examples (3) 

The Sun is always included as a reference point:

In[1]:=
ResourceFunction["MilkyWayPlot3D"][]
Out[1]=

Entities of different types can be included:

In[2]:=
ResourceFunction[ "MilkyWayPlot3D"][{Entity["Star", "Deneb"], Entity["AstronomicalRadioSource", "SagittariusAStar"], Entity["Nebula", "M42"], Entity["Pulsar", "PSRJ0534Plus2200"]}]
Out[2]=

Entity classes can be included:

In[3]:=
ResourceFunction["MilkyWayPlot3D"][ EntityClass["StarCluster", "GlobularCluster"]]
Out[3]=

Options (1) 

Labels can be styled:

In[4]:=
ResourceFunction["MilkyWayPlot3D"][Background -> Black, LabelStyle -> {White, 18}, PlotStyle -> White]
Out[4]=

Possible Issues (2) 

Objects near the Earth may not be resolvable at the scales typically used:

In[5]:=
ResourceFunction["MilkyWayPlot3D"][{Entity["Planet", "Mars"]}]
Out[5]=

Objects well beyond the Milky Way are automatically pruned:

In[6]:=
ResourceFunction["MilkyWayPlot3D"][{Entity["Galaxy", "M33"]}]
Out[6]=

Version History

  • 2.0.0 – 01 August 2019
  • 1.0.0 – 19 June 2019

Related Resources

License Information