They discover a mysterious interstellar tunnel connecting the Solar System with Centauri.
A team of astrophysicists has succeeded in drawing a detailed 3D map of the gas bubble surrounding our Solar System, known as the Local Hot Bubble (LHB, by its English acronym). This map, based on data from the eROSITA space telescope, reveals an amazing interstellar tunnel connecting this bubble to another located in the constellation Centaurus. This discovery suggests the existence of a network of tunnels between stellar structures, which may be formed by supernova explosions and stellar winds.
Local hot bubble and its mysteries
The solar system is surrounded by a low-density structure called the Local Hot Bubble, consisting of millions of degrees of gas that emits X-rays. This bubble, discovered five decades ago, provides a constant background of X-rays. scientists have been studying to better understand our cosmic neighborhood.
Thanks to data obtained by the eROSITA telescope, scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics were able to observe temperature changes inside the LHB, where there are hot and cold spots associated with ancient supernova explosions. These phenomena expanded the bubble, increasing its temperature and size.
Tunnel towards Centauro
One of the most surprising discoveries of the study was the discovery of an interstellar tunnel connecting the LHB with another bubble in Centauri, where the closest star to our Sun, Proxima Centauri, is located. According to scientists, this tunnel acts as a conduit between both bubbles – a phenomenon that has not yet been recorded.
The eROSITA telescope, located 1.5 million kilometers from Earth, allows you to observe space beyond the Earth’s geocorona, avoiding interference. This arrangement is key as it provides a clear and uncontaminated view of the x-rays. This 3D map, created by analyzing 2,000 different regions of the Milky Way, showed that the galactic north is cooler than the south and that the bubble. extends to the galactic poles.
The mystery of interstellar tunnels
Michael Freiberg, one of the researchers, explained that eROSITA’s sensitivity and analysis method allowed it to detect the presence of an interstellar tunnel towards Centauri. This “void” in the cold interstellar gas has raised questions about the nature of these tunnels and their possible function in the Milky Way.
The existence of this tunnel appears to be part of a network of hot gas pathways between stars. This network, the researchers explain, is a product of the influence of stellar winds, supernova explosions and novae jets—a phenomenon collectively known as “stellar feedback.” This feedback is the force that is believed to shape the galaxy, creating structures and paths of hot gas through its regions.
Network of Galactic Connections
In addition to the tunnel to Centauro, the eROSITA study identified another similar connection in the direction of the Gum Nebula, known as the Canis Major tunnel. This structure connects the LHB to a distant superbubble and suggests an expanding network of tunnels through the Milky Way.
This discovery raises the possibility that these gas tunnels are more common than previously thought, and that stellar feedback is a phenomenon that helps connect distant galactic regions.
Consequences for the Solar System
An interesting aspect mentioned by Gabriele Ponti, another researcher, is that the Sun entered the LHB several million years ago, which is a short period compared to its age of 4.6 billion years. The Sun’s current position in the bubble is temporary, as its continued movement through the galaxy will eventually take it into another interstellar medium.
This discovery of an interstellar tunnel and complex network of superbubbles highlights the ever-changing dynamics of the space surrounding our solar system. Studying and understanding these phenomena can reveal new insights into the structure of the Milky Way and the processes affecting the interstellar space in which our planet moves.