英语听力：自然百科 穿越银河系的旅行 Through Milky Way—4

 By comparing the detailed¹ images, Hubble has taken another spiral galaxy². With the best images of our own taken from the ground, and by using satellites to measure the distance and density³ of stars in different directions, astronomers⁴ have been able to draw a grand plan of our star city. 

 

At its heart is a bright central region. This is the galactic core. From here, two majestic⁵ spiral arms, bright bands of billions of stars sweep outwards⁶. They're called Scutum-Centaurus  and the Perseus Arm. There are three smaller rounds containing smaller stars.

 

From one side to the other, our galaxy measures a staggering 600,000 trillion miles. 

 

“It takes light 100,000 years to cross our galaxy. This is a big galaxy and it's quite amazing if you think about it that we understand as much as we do about the system.”

 

So now, we know where we are. Our sun and solar system are located here in a quiet neighborhood nestled between two spiral arms.

 

So we will begin our journey by taking the Earth to one of the most spectacular locations in the Milky Way, a place that holds the clue to how the two hundred billion stars in our galaxy including our own sun were first created and it's just around the corner

 

1 detailed   

adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的

参考例句：

• He had made a detailed study of the terrain.他对地形作了缜密的研究。
• A detailed list of our publications is available on request.我们的出版物有一份详细的目录备索。

2 galaxy   

n.星系；银河系；一群(杰出或著名的人物)

参考例句：

• The earth is one of the planets in the Galaxy.地球是银河系中的星球之一。
• The company has a galaxy of talent.该公司拥有一批优秀的人才。

3 density   

n.密集，密度，浓度

参考例句：

• The population density of that country is 685 per square mile.那个国家的人口密度为每平方英里685人。
• The region has a very high population density.该地区的人口密度很高。

4 astronomers   

n.天文学者，天文学家( astronomer的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Astronomers can accurately foretell the date,time,and length of future eclipses. 天文学家能精确地预告未来日食月食的日期、时刻和时长。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Astronomers used to ask why only Saturn has rings. 天文学家们过去一直感到奇怪，为什么只有土星有光环。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 majestic   

adj.雄伟的，壮丽的，庄严的，威严的，崇高的

参考例句：

• In the distance rose the majestic Alps.远处耸立着雄伟的阿尔卑斯山。
• He looks majestic in uniform.他穿上军装显得很威风。

6 outwards   

adj.外面的，公开的，向外的；adv.向外；n.外形

参考例句：

• Does this door open inwards or outwards?这门朝里开还是朝外开？
• In lapping up a fur,they always put the inner side outwards.卷毛皮时，他们总是让内层朝外。