Galactic Magnetism: Extended is the new Compact

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Magnetic fields are one of the four primary components of the interstellar medium (ISM), or, 'the stuff between the stars'. The other components are gas, dust, and cosmic rays (highly energetic charged particles). Magnetic fields are believed to be important in galactic pressure balance, star formation, and perhaps even in the formation of galaxies themselves. Understanding the structure of magnetic fields within our Galaxy (and others) provides us with important constraints on models addressing how the Galactic magnetic field originally formed and how it is evolving.