The first 3D dust filter image of the Milky Way galaxy has arrived! Based on the observation data from the Guo Shoujing Telescope (LAMOST) and the Gaia satellite, Chinese and foreign astronomers have jointly drawn the first three-dimensional dust "filter map" of the Milky Way covering the entire sky. This image not only reveals the distribution pattern of dust in the Milky Way, but also synchronously measures the impact characteristics of dust on starlight for the first time. At the same time, they also established the world's first billion level stellar extinction database. The relevant research results were published online in the form of a cover article in the journal Science on March 14th. Interstellar space is not completely vacuum, as it is filled with a large amount of interstellar matter composed of gas and dust. These gases and dust are not only the cradle of stars, but also the key to the circulation of galactic matter. Among them, elements heavier than hydrogen and helium mostly exist in the form of dust particles, which are like "filters" in the universe - they can absorb and scatter starlight, making the stars we observe appear darker and redder. This phenomenon is commonly known as the extinction effect by astronomers. Most astronomical observations require specialized calculations to eliminate visual errors caused by this' interstellar dust '. The impact of interstellar dust on starlight is like a "colored filter": blue light attenuates more significantly than red light. The feature of this "color filter" (extinction curve) is not only the key to correcting observational data, but also the core clue to deciphering dust composition, size, and interstellar environment. However, traditional dust research has long faced a dilemma: high-precision spectral data can only cover local areas, making it difficult to display the entire Milky Way galaxy; The observations covering the entire day are not precise enough to capture the subtle changes in dust characteristics. Therefore, astronomers have to assume that the dust 'filter' across the entire Milky Way is the same, which is like taking photos with color distorted cameras, which may bring potential errors to research such as cosmology and exoplanet exploration The first author of the paper, Zhang Xiangyu, said. In this study, Zhang Xiangyu et al. used high-precision observation data from LAMOST and wide area observation data from the Gaia satellite to successfully deduce the "filter characteristics" of dust in the line of sight direction of 130 million stars, and finally drew the first three-dimensional dust distribution map of the Milky Way covering the entire sky with a detection depth of 16000 light-years. Zhang Xiangyu stated that the three-dimensional dust "filter map" of the Milky Way released in this study is like a "interstellar navigation map" for astronomers, which can guide more accurate observations of the universe and provide new coordinates for solving the mysteries of the evolution of the Milky Way, tracking the material cycle of the galaxy, and even exploring the origin of life. (New Society)