Grand cosmic spirals, particularly spiral and elliptical nebulae, traditionally seemed absent from the Milky Way's plane—a region dubbed the "Zone of Avoidance". Early discoveries, including spiral nebula IC 342 in 1892, fueled curiosity as the reasons for their unusual distribution were unclear. Infrared astronomy revolutionized our observations, allowing light-blocked galaxies in this zone to be detected, revealing that they were as abundant there as in other areas. Pioneering work by Paolo Maffei brought Maffei 1 and 2 to light, enhancing our understanding of the universe's structure.
From the earliest discovery of grand cosmic spirals, it became evident that spiral nebulae avoid the galactic plane, leading to a significant astronomical puzzle.
The development of infrared astronomy was pivotal, as it allowed astronomers to reveal galaxies like Maffei 1 and 2 within the previously obstructed 'Zone of Avoidance'.
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