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Zone of avoidance
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Nicolaus Copernicus. Nicolas Copernicus (1473-1543) Polish astronomer. In 1543 he published, forward proof of a Heliocentric (sun centered) universe. Coloured stipple engraving published London 1802. De revolutionibus orbium coelestium libri vi.
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Zone of avoidance

astronomy
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Zone of avoidance, region characterized by an apparent absence of galaxies near the plane of the Milky Way Galaxy and caused by the obscuring effect of interstellar dust. It was so called by the American astronomer Edwin P. Hubble.

The zone of avoidance is entirely a local Milky Way Galaxy effect. Surveys in the infrared and radio regions of the electromagnetic spectrum have shown that many external galaxies lie beyond it. The mass concentration known as the Great Attractor lies within it.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica This article was most recently revised and updated by Erik Gregersen.