An opaque, box-shaped dust cloud at the center of our galaxy has long intrigued scientists, and observations that reveal a new detail about its composition are deepening the mystery, possibly altering what we know about how stars are formed. The cloud, nicknamed “the Brick” for its visual impenetrability and rectangular appearance, was previously estimated to be more than 100,000 times the mass of the Sun. And such a dense cluster should be generating massive new stars, based on researchers’ current understanding of star formation. However, it is not happening. Brick is largely inactive. And the most recent observations, made using the James Webb Space Telescope, have not revealed any hidden young stars.
Webb’s new data, instead, revealed that Brick is not just made up of gas. According to a study published on Monday in The Astrophysical Journal, it is also full of frozen carbon monoxide – much more than previously expected. Additionally, there is more ice forming deeper inside the Brick. The findings could have drastic implications for how scientists analyze this region in the future. More carbon monoxide ice inside the Brick could drastically change how researchers study and measure the dark clouds at the center of the Milky Way.
James Webb Telescope Shares Stunning New Images
Source: CNN Brasil
Charles Grill is a tech-savvy writer with over 3 years of experience in the field. He writes on a variety of technology-related topics and has a strong focus on the latest advancements in the industry. He is connected with several online news websites and is currently contributing to a technology-focused platform.
