Milky Way Core Exposed: ALMA Reveals Complex Gas Web at Galactic Center

Astronomers using the ALMA array produced the largest mosaic of the Milky Way’s center to date, mapping the Central Molecular Zone across roughly 650 light-years and revealing a web of cold gas filaments and dense clouds that feed star formation. The ACES collaboration, involving about 160 scientists from over 70 institutions, aims to test how star formation and chemistry operate in this extreme galactic environment. The dataset will sharpen our understanding of the galaxy’s evolution and will be followed by upgrades to ALMA and future telescopes for even deeper studies.