Magnetic Streamlines of the Milky Way
Explanation:
What role do magnetic fields play in interstellar physics?
Analyses of observations by ESA's
Planck satellite
of emission by small magnetically-aligned dust grains reveal previously unknown
magnetic field
structures in our
Milky Way Galaxy -- as shown by the curvy lines in the
featured full-sky image.
The dark red shows the
plane of the Milky Way,
where the concentration of dust is the highest.
The huge arches above the plane are likely remnants of
past explosive events from
our Galaxy's core, conceptually similar to magnetic
loop-like structures seen in our Sun's atmosphere.
The curvy streamlines align with
interstellar filaments of neutral hydrogen gas and provide tantalizing evidence
that magnetic fields may supplement gravity in not only in shaping the
interstellar medium,
but in forming stars.
How magnetism
affected our
Galaxy's evolution
will likely remain a
topic of research for years to come.
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.
