Ultrafast cosmic cloud discovered in the Milky Way

Astronomers have discovered a mysterious high-speed cloud with a unique structure in the Milky Way. Inside the cosmic object hides a complex filamentary network resembling a cosmic web, reports Mir24.

The unusual cosmic object has been designated G165. This gigantic cloud of atomic oxygen is racing through space at a speed of about 300 kilometers per second. Located at a distance of 50 thousand light-years from Earth, the object floats significantly above the plane of our galaxy. Researchers have high hopes for studying G165, expecting to obtain valuable data about the early stages of interstellar cloud formation.

Detailed observations revealed that G165 predominantly consists of a warm neutral medium with small inclusions of cold matter. The internal structure of the cloud amazed scientists — it is literally permeated with a network of gas filaments, forming an intricate web-like pattern. These filaments intertwine and twist in cosmic space, forming a three-dimensional gas lattice with clear signs of turbulent processes.

For a deep understanding of the physical mechanisms of this phenomenon, astronomers conducted large-scale computer modeling. The research results showed that the formation of the filamentary structure is caused by the interaction of supersonic turbulence and magnetic fields. Notably, these processes occur without the participation of gravitational forces, as noted by the authoritative scientific journal Nature Astronomy.

This discovery has significantly expanded scientists' understanding of the behavior of atomic gas in remote and quiet regions of the galaxy. In the future, this gas moves to star formation zones, where it becomes building material for the birth of new stars.