"The Radcliffe Wave: The Enormous Star-Studded Wave in the Milky Way"

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Source: Space.com
"The Radcliffe Wave: The Enormous Star-Studded Wave in the Milky Way"
Photo: Space.com
TL;DR

Astronomers have discovered a colossal chain of gas clouds in the Milky Way called the Radcliffe Wave, housing around 800 million stars and actively seeding more. In a new paper, researchers present evidence that the Wave is a literal oscillating wave, with stars rising and falling through the galaxy's disk. The Wave, up to 400 light-years deep and 9,000 light-years long, is the largest known structure of gas in astronomy and is radiating away from the galaxy's center. Understanding the Wave can provide insights into the galaxy's operations, including its potential role in forming the Local Bubble around our solar system.

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