Unveiling the Mystery of 'Ghost Stars' in the Milky Way's Core

Scientists have discovered that the alignment of planetary nebulas in the galactic bulge at the center of the Milky Way is only present in nebulas with a close stellar companion. This suggests that the alignment is created by the rapid orbital motion of the companion star, which may even end up orbiting inside the remains of the main star. The findings deepen our understanding of the dynamics and evolution of the Milky Way's bulge region and provide insights into the formation of close binary systems.