The Zooniverse

The Milky Way Project is a Zooniverse people-powered research initiative that invites volunteers to help scientists study how stars form and identify some of the most massive stars in our galaxy. Participants examine tens of thousands of infrared images captured by the Spitzer Space Telescope and the WISE satellite observatory, making classifications that support astronomical research.

The project provides a training activity, “Learning the Ropes,” followed by “Map the Milky Way,” where volunteers classify real data. Using an image-marking tool, participants identify infrared bubbles and measure their shapes and sizes, search for bow shocks created by massive stars moving through space, and flag unusual features with the “Other Objects” tool. Volunteers can also connect with the research team and other participants through Zooniverse Talk and explore project results and statistics.

The project’s second data release paper is available, and the team has paused data gathering while analyzing recent classifications. The project acknowledges and thanks its volunteers for contributing to this collaborative effort to map and better understand our galaxy.