New Delhi: Astronomers have identified a plasma pathway extending across interstellar space from the Solar System toward the Centaurus constellation at the galaxy's core. This structure, termed the Centaurus Tunnel, is a tendril of hot gas linking the local bubble of hot gas surrounding the Solar System with a larger 'superbubble' formed by supernova explosions.
The extended ROentgen Survey with an Imaging Telescope Array (eROSITA), stationed in a halo orbit around the second Lagrange Point (L2), played a crucial role in this discovery. This location minimizes interference from Earth's magnetic fields, allowing precise mapping of hot gas distribution in the Milky Way.
The research team successfully mapped the distribution of plasma, dust, superbubbles, and supernova remnants. In addition to the Centaurus Tunnel, the Canis Majoris tunnel was also mapped, connecting the Local Hot Bubble with the Gum Nebula, designated as GSH238+00+09. The study also provided insights into the temperatures and velocities of the hot gas. Findings were detailed in a paper published in Astronomy and Astrophysics.