Nov 2 2009Mmmm, That's Milky: 648 Megapixel Milky Way

This is a 648 megapixel composite (higher-res version HERE) of the Milky Way created by physicist (and all around badass) Axel Mellinger. Good lookin', Axel.
Physicist Axel Mellinger spent nearly two years traveling 26,000 miles across South Africa, Texas and Michigan. What does he have to show for it? Well, he's cobbled together a stunning 648 megapixel panorama of the Milky Way as seen from Earth, using 3,000 individual photographs. The Central Michigan University professor wants to make the image available for planetariums, as it's large enough to serve educational purposes. It even shows stars that are 1,000 times too faint to be seen by the human eye, so this is a Milky Way like you've never seen.
That IS a Milky Way like I've never seen. Get it? BECAUSE THERE'S NO CHOCOLATE OR NOUGAT LIKE THE CANDY BAR! Yep *cracking knuckles* I can already tell today's gonna be a good day.
Photo: stunning 648 megapixel image of the Milky Way [dvice]
Thanks to Closet Nerd, who sends enough tips to be out already.
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Reader Comments
1. ehrin - November 3, 2009 10:16 AM
f1rst!
2. Pepisa - November 3, 2009 10:16 AM
First!
3. Pepisa - November 3, 2009 10:17 AM
Away with you!
4. naas - November 3, 2009 10:18 AM
I can see my house, awesome!
@1 what a way to show the world how pathetically unimaginative you are, a post about our galaxy & your cliche ass is firstarded weeeeee
5. JADE - November 3, 2009 10:19 AM
Looks like the fog my man leave in the bathroom every damn morning, uugghh
6. naas - November 3, 2009 10:19 AM
@5 what the hell are you serving the poor guy for dinner?
7. STOMPY (wants your mario kart friend code) - November 3, 2009 10:24 AM
Thats no galaxy.... its a space station..
8. DAve@#42 - November 3, 2009 10:29 AM
Hey it's Pluto's big brother Frank seeking revenge for Pluto's demotion.
9. LSDiesel - November 3, 2009 10:29 AM
Looks like celestial flatulence. It's beautiful!
10. Jazzman - November 3, 2009 10:35 AM
@ Geek Writer - That's what my gurl friends said - "Mmmm, That's Milky"
11. you sir suck - November 3, 2009 10:35 AM
Oh so thats the end of the world
12. Timbo - November 3, 2009 10:41 AM
Very nice...very nice.
I think I'm gonna live on that star right there... yeah that one...
13. naas - November 3, 2009 10:43 AM
It looks a little like LA at the crack of dawn
14. STOMPY (wants your mario kart friend code) - November 3, 2009 10:47 AM
thats nothing, I have a 650 MP cameraphone
15. LSDiesel - November 3, 2009 10:57 AM
@14, your mom is 650 megapixles. Hiyo!
16. Pat - November 3, 2009 11:01 AM
Good lookin' out Axel!
17. Timbo - November 3, 2009 11:03 AM
@LSDiesel
Good one, well done....well....done....
18. Hayley - November 3, 2009 11:07 AM
Lol @ Closet Nerd sends enough tips to be out already.
19. STOMPY (wants your mario kart friend code) - November 3, 2009 11:08 AM
@15
you're moms... the one with the.... shell on it...
20. JADE - November 3, 2009 11:11 AM
@6 only the best frozen dinners money can buy...
21. naas - November 3, 2009 11:27 AM
@20 salisbury steak ftw
22. JADE - November 3, 2009 11:55 AM
@21 EEEWWAAH that sh*t is nasty. No his problem is he eats fast food for lunch everyday, yet he never gains a pound. Yes I secrectly hate him for that.
23. naas - November 3, 2009 1:53 PM
@22 you're not giving yourself much credit here as the wife that cooks for her husband
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/18/Salisbury_steak.jpg
24. JADE - November 3, 2009 2:13 PM
@23 oh man that was gross.
I hate frozen dinners, I just always wonder about the whole process it goes through before you shove it in your mouth.
25. GoSS Jerk no longer sterilized for your pleasure - November 3, 2009 3:32 PM
@23 i just lost my lunch, and it looks just like that pic lol
26. naas - November 3, 2009 3:51 PM
@24 yeah you don't want to know what 'parts of processed meat' are in those things, they're not really steaks at all. lips, gizzards & buttholes I think
27. col - November 3, 2009 4:05 PM
Is there anyway to see the fullsize picture ? Or maybe just the half-size one... Any bigger one that the one we can see here.
28. cabbo - November 3, 2009 4:59 PM
@27 Buy a rocket. Or go to one of those planetariums.
29. Jaded Icon - November 4, 2009 7:22 AM
@ 30
No you can't..........because you didn't say the magic word.
30. Brigitta Rae - November 4, 2009 5:04 PM
That's cool, but this one is WAY BETTER!
http://www.sergebrunier.com/gallerie/pleinciel/360.swf
31. Greg - November 4, 2009 6:06 PM
Whoa. I just set the high resolution version as my desktop background.