Astronomers have found out while checking on the overall status of our Milky Way that the galaxy suffered a broken arm in ancient times and it has never healed.
The research published in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics, says the break NASA found in a spiral arm of the galaxy is like a fragment of a bone, coming out to the side. But this is another opportunity for astronomers to learn more about the history of the universe, reports Space.com.
Mapping out cosmos is difficult
NASA discovered this after scientists observed the data from the space agency’s retired Spitzer Space Telescope and the ESA’s Gaia mission, which were used to improve NASA’s 3D map of the Milky Way.
One of the biggest tasks in mapping out the universe is accurately knowing the distance between two objects. And the closer look indicated that a part of the spiral arm is jutting off the side. Observing the broken arm further could reveal the cause behind the “injury.”
“Ultimately, this is a reminder that there are many uncertainties about the large-scale structure of the Milky Way, and we need to look at the details if we want to understand that bigger picture,” study co-author Robert Benjamin said in the press release. “This structure is a small piece of the Milky Way, but it could tell us something significant about the galaxy as a whole.”
Milky Way is full of mysteries
Previously, a team of astronomers discovered an unbelievably massive gas filament extending throughout our galaxy. It is said to be so big scientists are baffled how come it wasn’t spotted before. The massive filament of space gas is so huge that the team that discovered it doesn’t even know what is it exactly?
Besides, another study claims to have discovered more than 100 stellar-mass black holes hiding in the cluster of stars moving across the Milky Way. Thankfully, these black holes are far away and do not pose any threat to Earthlings. They are so far that scientists are considering them as an opportunity to study more about these newly found mysterious objects.
