ESO/J. Emerson/M. Irwin/J. Lewis
Image of the nebula Carina
The giant structure had never been discovered because it does not have the dense star formation activity and the signs of carbon monoxide that are usually used to detect molecular clouds.
Astronomers discovered a colossal and so far unknown cloud of molecular hydrogen gas In the vicinity of our galaxy – a discovery that can redefine our understanding of the interstellar environment and star formation.
A new published in Nature Astronomy reports the discovery of the cloud, named after Eosin honor of the Greek goddess of dawn. It is believed that this immense structure is the nearest molecular cloudbut its evasive nature has made it go unnoticed so far.
With up to 80 light years in extension and located the Only 300 Light years from Earth, Eos It is surprisingly vast, containing between 2000 and 8500 times the mass of our sun in gas, although only about 44 solar masses in dust. Your growing body occupies an impressive 25 degrees of the sky – an angular size overcome only by the Milky Way -And it is on the edge of the local bubble, making it closer than famous stars like Betelgeuse.
Despite its scale, Eos It was not detected in previous research because does not have the dense activity stellar formation and carbon monoxide signs that are usually used to detect molecular clouds. Instead, it was identified by its weak glow in the distant ultraviolet (FUV) of the spectrum – a region historically difficult to observe, the.
Using data from the Korean satellite STSAT-1, which mapped 70% of the sky, Dr. Blakesley Burkhart of Rutgers University detected fluorescent hydrogen molecules Brighting weakly in the FUV, marking the first time a molecular cloud was discovered this way.
“This cloud is literally shining in the darkBurkhart said in a statement, emphasizing the novelty of detecting molecular hydrogen directly through Fuv fluorescence.
Although Eos can potentially collapse in stars, scientists believe it is more likely to be dispersed by the surrounding star radiation within six million years. Its low density compared to stellar formation regions such as Orion nebula suggests that its potential to form stars can never materialize.
