ARIES scientists map Milky Way's interstellar dust using over 6,000 open clusters
The Department of Science and Technology reported on 16 September 2025 that scientists at ARIES used data from more than 6,000 open star clusters to map interstellar dust across the Milky Way's galactic plane.
Summary
Scientists from the Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES), an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology, have mapped the distribution of interstellar dust across the Milky Way's galactic plane, DST reported on 16 September 2025. The study used data from more than 6,000 open clusters, which lie close to the Galactic disk and act as tracers of dust that dims starlight, a process called extinction. The sample of 6,215 open clusters was shown against an ESA Gaia EDR3 view of the Milky Way. The study, led by Dr. Y. C. Joshi, found that the dust is not evenly distributed and instead forms a thin, wavy layer.
Key facts
- Institute
- ARIES (autonomous, DST)
- Data
- 6,215 open clusters (over 6,000)
- Phenomenon
- Extinction — dimming of starlight by interstellar dust
- Finding
- Dust forms a thin, wavy layer, not evenly spread
- Lead scientist
- Dr. Y. C. Joshi
Practice MCQs 1 questions
What did the ARIES study of more than 6,000 open clusters, reported in September 2025, find about interstellar dust in the Milky Way?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — It forms a thin, wavy layer rather than being evenly distributed
The study led by Dr. Y. C. Joshi found that the dust is not evenly distributed and instead forms a thin, wavy layer.