Astronomers uncover a fractured ‘galactic bone’ in the Milky Way, revealing signs of a neutron star collision that may hold secrets to the universe’s violent past.
A team of astronomers has made a groundbreaking discovery, revealing that one of the Milky Way’s mysterious ‘galactic bones’ is fractured. The bone in question, known as G359.13142-0.20005 or ‘the Snake,’ appears to have been damaged by a collision with a neutron star.
Galactic bones refer to the remains of ancient stars and galaxies that have been discovered in the cosmos.
These celestial fossils provide valuable insights into the formation and evolution of the universe.
Astronomers have found galactic bones in the form of neutron stars, black holes, and supernova remnants.
These relics hold secrets about the origins of matter and energy, and scientists continue to study them to better understand the workings of the galaxy.
The Science Behind Galactic Bones
The Milky Way is home to numerous elongated formations of energized particles, dubbed ‘galactic bones.’ These structures spiral along magnetic fields and release radio waves, making them detectable using radio telescopes. Scientists have identified several such bones throughout the galaxy, but G359 stands out as one of the brightest and most striking examples.
The Fractured Bone: A Possible Neutron Star Collision
Research published in the Monthly Notice of the Royal Astronomical Society aimed to test a long-held hypothesis about the origin of the fractured bone. By analyzing data from NASA‘s Chandra X-ray Observatory, the MeerKAT telescope array in South Africa, and the Very Large Array in New Mexico, scientists discovered signs of a pulsar – a neutron star spinning at high speed – in the same region as the broken bone.
A pulsar is a highly magnetized rotating neutron star that emits electromagnetic radiation in a beam, which can be observed as pulses of radiation.
Neutron stars are formed when a massive star undergoes a supernova explosion and collapses into an incredibly dense object.
Pulsars are created when the neutron star's magnetic field is tilted at an angle from its rotation axis, causing the emission to sweep through space like a lighthouse beam.
The Pulsar’s Impact
Using these observatories, researchers estimated that the suspected collision between the pulsar and the galactic bone occurred at an incredible speed of between 1,609,000 and 3,218,000 kilometers per hour. This impact is believed to have distorted the magnetic field of the bone, causing its radio signal to deform.
Understanding Pulsars
Pulsars are extreme objects formed from the remnants of massive stars that have undergone a supernova explosion. These neutron stars rotate at high velocities and produce strong magnetic fields. Due to their size and distance, pulsars cannot be directly observed, but radio telescopes can detect the electromagnetic waves they emit.
The Milky Way’s Hidden Secret
The discovery of G359.13142-0.20005 or ‘the Snake’ sheds new light on the mysteries of our galaxy. By studying this fractured galactic bone, scientists have gained valuable insights into the violent collisions that shape the universe. As researchers continue to explore the cosmos, we may uncover more secrets hidden within the Milky Way’s vast expanse.
The Milky Way is a barred spiral galaxy, estimated to contain between 200 and 400 billion stars.
It is the largest member of the Local Group of galaxies, which also includes the Andromeda Galaxy and several smaller satellite galaxies.
The Milky Way is thought to have formed around 13.6 billion years ago, during the early stages of the universe's evolution.
Its name comes from the Latin word 'galaxias', meaning 'milky,' due to its appearance as a hazy band of light in the night sky.
- wired.com | The Milky Way Has a Mysterious ‘Broken Bone’
