Fracture in Milky Way’s Cosmic Bone Explained by Astronomers

SPACE

By Aniket Chakraborty May 6, 2025 Arrow Image Credit | @chandraxray | X

A massive structure called G359.13, nicknamed "The Snake," has a visible fracture.

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NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory and MeerKAT radio array traced the break’s cause.

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A fast-moving neutron star, or pulsar, smashed into the giant cosmic "bone."

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Neutron stars are ultra-dense remains of massive star explosions, traveling at insane speeds.

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The pulsar likely slammed into G359.13 at up to two million miles per hour!

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This impact distorted magnetic fields and warped the radio signals from the "Snake."

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G359.13 stretches about 230 light-years long — longer than 800 stars stacked end to end.

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Located 26,000 light-years away, this fractured giant offers rare insights into galactic dynamics.

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Scientists published these cosmic revelations in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

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