Milky Way Once Had a Very Active Core

As opposed to other spiral galaxies of comparable size and mass, the Milky Way has a relatively tame core, which does not display too many signs of activity. But a new study found that things weren't always so quiet in the region surrounding our supermassive black hole. Ghostly gamma-r... [ read more >> ]

Newly discovered gamma-ray jets (pink) extend for 27,000 light-years above and below the galactic plane, and are tilted at an angle of 15 degrees. Gamma-ray bubbles are shown in purple

Image comment: Newly discovered gamma-ray jets (pink) extend for 27,000 light-years above and below the galactic plane, and are tilted at an angle of 15 degrees. Gamma-ray bubbles are shown in purple
Image credits: CfA / David A. Aguilar

Newly discovered gamma-ray jets (pink) extend for 27,000 light-years above and below the galactic plane, and are tilted at an angle of 15 degrees. Gamma-ray bubbles are shown in purple