The twinkle we can see with our own eye is only a small fraction of the electromagnetic spectrum . Since the discovery of infrared radiation over 200 years ago , we have employed ways to make the invisible seeable , allowing us to expect at the cosmos in a completely unlike way of life .

The European Space Agency ( ESA ) launch the Herschel   Space Observatory in 2009 with the goal of supply the estimable view of the infrared macrocosm . Although it reason operations in 2013 , scientist have been fussy processing the data and have now released the first part of the Herschel Infrared Galactic Plane Survey ( Hi - GAL ) , which consist of 70 maps of extraordinary lineament and resolving power .

" These maps are not only stunning from an esthetic point of view , but they represent a deep data point set for astronomers to look into the unlike phases of star establishment in our Galaxy , " explains Sergio Molinari from IAPS / INAF , Italy , principal investigator for the Hi - GAL Project , in astatement .

Hi - GAL is Herschel ’s large detect program   in terms of both sky reportage   –   2 percent of the whole sky   –   and observe time , with over   900 hours of observation . The images allow us to see the interstellar issue and stellar nurseries , open us   insight into how virtuoso form .

Using infrared light countenance astronomers to depend at some of the coldest objects in the universe , but incur the single-valued function was not easy as often proto - star object and diffuse gun clouds have exchangeable temperatures . The team had to develop a especial proficiency to maximize the contrast between the single sources and the scope .

The upshot   can be seen in this spectacular video of the planing machine of the Milky Way . It spans almost 40 percent   of the cardinal airplane ,   where most of the stars shack . The scene is acompositeof three wavelengths   –   70 ( blue ) , 160 ( green ) , and 350 ( red ) micron   –   which jibe to objects at a temperature of 40 , 18 , and 8 Kelvin   ( -385 ° F , -427 ° atomic number 9 , and -444 ° F ) ,   respectively .