One of the longest structures in galaxy discovered by astronomers, which spans about 3,900 light-years and is 130 light-years wide, consisting almost exclusively of atomic gas hydrogen. The structure was named “Maggie” and it is probably a precursor to the “clouds” that give birth to stars.
More specifically, “Maggie” is located on the other side of our galaxy relative to Earth, at a distance of about 55,000 light years. The largest known molecular gas clouds to date did not exceed 800 light years.
Atomic hydrogen gas in “Maggie” seems to converge in places and form molecular hydrogen. When compressed into large molecular clouds, it is the material from which stars are eventually formed.
Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe and the main constituent of stars, according to the APE-MPE. It exists in the universe in various forms. Astronomers find it in the form of atoms and molecules (two atoms together). The transition from atomic to molecular hydrogen is a process that is not yet well understood. Only molecular gas condenses into solid clouds.
However, the detection of individual clouds of hydrogen gas is very difficult, which is why it is also difficult to study the early stages of star formation. Thus, the new discovery of this long “avenue” filamentous structure of atomic hydrogen gas is considered important.
The researchers, led by scientists at the German Planck Institute for Astronomy in Heidelberg, published the paper in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics.
Here you will see the relevant scientific publication.
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