Using cepheid and RR Lyrae variables to systematically chart the distribution of globular clusters, Shapley discovered that the stars in the Milky Way orbited a common center thousands of light years away from the Sun. The Galactic Center was determined to be in the direction of the Sagittarius constellation, approximately 50,000 light-years from us.
Shapley utilized cepheid and RR Lyrae variables to map the distribution of globular clusters, finding that stars in the Milky Way revolved around a common center thousands of light years from the Sun. The Galactic Center was situated in the Sagittarius constellation, roughly 50,000 light-years away.