A Galactic Mushroom Cloud
Explanation:
Part of our Galaxy is exploding.
Recent radio observations show new details
of hot gas expanding rapidly from an energetic
star-forming region in our
Galactic disk out into our
Galaxy's halo.
The combined power of at least hundreds of
supernovae
is needed to drive
this tremendous expansion.
The resulting 1000 light-year
mushroom cloud dwarfs any
Earth-borne nuclear explosion, but is small
compared to the 60,000 light-year diameter of our
Milky Way's disk.
The mushroom cloud is one of
many similar plumes, and provides
important clues to the origin and nature of the
Milky Way's
mysterious hot gas halo.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
