The new image allows for a deeper understanding of the processes involved in the formation of stars and planets when they are in close proximity to each other. According to astrophysics professor from the University of Liverpool, Steve Longmore, it is under such conditions that most stars in the universe are formed.
To date, this image is the most detailed representation of the central part of the Milky Way, showing the distribution of many simple and complex molecules. It provides unique information about the cold gas that serves as the raw material for star formation.
The radio telescope that captured the center of the Milky Way is located on the high-altitude Chahantor plateau and consists of 66 movable antennas, the configuration of which can be changed, allowing the antennas to be spaced up to 16 km apart.
Previous studies by astronomers have shown that there may be more than 100 stellar-mass black holes in the core of the Milky Way star cluster, which, according to scientists, cause the unique structure of this cosmic object—a sparse core and a long "tail" of stars extending for tens of thousands of light-years.
