Scientists have discovered a new giant molecular cloud near the center of the Milky Way. It has a mass of 160,000 solar masses and a size of 200 light years. It could become a new center of star formation.
Giant molecular cloud
On March 18, scientists at the Green Banks Observatory reported the discovery of a new molecular cloud of interstellar gas in the Milky Way. This is reported in a paper published on the arXiv preprint server.
In general, interstellar clouds of cold gas are a very common thing in the Universe. Some of them were left over from the beginning of its existence. Others were formed from gas ejected by supernovae. Some of them reach gigantic sizes. They have a length of tens of light years and a mass thousands of times greater than the solar mass.
This is the object M4.7-0.8 discovered by astronomers. It is located 23,000 light years away from us in the galactic bar. That’s the name of the webbing that sits near the center of our Galaxy. These locations are characterized by a much higher density of stars than the vicinity of the solar system, so nothing surprising about this.
Details of the cloud structure
In total, the M4.7-0.8 cloud has a mass of 160,000 solar masses and extends 190 light-years in space. However, it has an elongated shape, meaning that the specified value is its largest size. In the vertical plane, it stretched for 65 light years. For comparison, the distance from the Sun to Sirius — only 9 light years.
The cloud consists of two elongated parts. Researchers have already spotted several possible centers of star formation in it. There are also traces of carbon monoxide emissions here.
According to phys.org
