The Galactic Extinction Horizon with Present and Future Surveys

TL;DR

This paper discusses the challenges of determining the Galactic extinction horizon using current near-infrared surveys and explores potential improvements with future surveys to better understand the far side of the Milky Way.

Contribution

It highlights the limitations of current surveys in measuring the Galactic extinction horizon and proposes strategies for future near-IR surveys to enhance our understanding of the Galaxy.

Findings

Current surveys reveal significant gaps in understanding the Galactic extinction horizon.

The extinction horizon remains a fundamental obstacle in Galactic studies.

Future surveys could substantially improve the mapping of the Galaxy's far side.

Abstract

We have made a lot of progress in the study of the MW. In spite of this, much of our Galaxy remains unknown, and amazing breakthroughs await to be made in the exploration of the far side of the Galaxy. Focussing on the Galactic extinction horizon problem with current surveys like the Two Micron All-Sky Survey (2MASS) and the Vista Variables in the Via Lactea Survey (VVV) and its extension VVVX, the extinction horizon is a fundamental difficulty, and it is my intention here to reveal how profound is our ignorance, and also to try to suggest ways for improvement with future near-IR Galactic surveys.