24/7 Space News
STELLAR CHEMISTRY
Supersonic gas filaments discovered in fast-moving Milky Way cloud
illustration only
Supersonic gas filaments discovered in fast-moving Milky Way cloud
by Riko Seibo
Tokyo, Japan (SPX) Jul 22, 2025

A team of astronomers has revealed an intricate network of supersonic gas filaments within a very-high-velocity cloud (VHVC) in the Milky Way, using the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST). The discovery sheds new light on the dynamic structure of the interstellar medium in the galaxy's quieter outer regions.

Led by the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory (SHAO) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, researchers studied G165, a massive cloud of atomic hydrogen moving at approximately 300 kilometers per second. Located around 50,000 light-years from Earth and situated far above the galactic plane, G165 provides a pristine observational window into early cloud formation.

Unlike high-velocity clouds (HVCs) that often contain a mixture of warm and cold gas, G165 is composed almost entirely of warm neutral medium (WNM), with negligible cold components. This composition, verified through FAST observations, positions VHVCs like G165 as potential precursors to more evolved interstellar structures.

FAST's high-resolution HI 21 cm data revealed that G165's gas is highly structured and supersonic, contradicting earlier assumptions that WNM in remote regions is smooth and quiescent. Instead, a dense lattice of velocity-coherent filaments spans the cloud, forming complex three-dimensional patterns with visible signs of turbulent motion.

To better understand the origin of these features, the team used magnetohydrodynamic simulations. These models showed that supersonic turbulence combined with magnetic fields can account for the observed characteristics, including velocity layering, asymmetrical profiles, and skewed density distributions. Crucially, these effects appear without the influence of gravity, highlighting the powerful role of turbulence and magnetism in shaping cosmic gas.

This finding not only provides a clearer picture of interstellar cloud dynamics but also suggests how atomic gas in remote galactic environments might evolve toward star formation. The identification of supersonic filamentary structures in a WNM-dominated VHVC could mark a new chapter in understanding how structure arises in low-gravity regions of space.

Research Report:A network of velocity-coherent filaments formed by supersonic turbulence in a very-high-velocity H i cloud

Related Links
hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST)
Stellar Chemistry, The Universe And All Within It

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
STELLAR CHEMISTRY
Milky Way may host scores of hidden faint satellite galaxies
London, UK (SPX) Jul 14, 2025
Cosmologists at Durham University suggest the Milky Way may be surrounded by up to 100 more faint satellite galaxies than previously observed, based on high-resolution supercomputer simulations and advanced mathematical modeling. Presented at the Royal Astronomical Society's National Astronomy Meeting, the research predicts these elusive "orphan" galaxies-nearly invisible due to being stripped of their dark matter halos-should exist in greater numbers than known. Current data lists 60 confirmed Mi ... read more

STELLAR CHEMISTRY
NASA says it will lose about 20 percent of its workforce

Jensen Huang, AI visionary in a leather jacket

Club Med taps ex-Carrefour executive as new CEO

New twist in EU-China patents standoff at WTO

STELLAR CHEMISTRY
7 Must-Read Astronautics Books for Future Aerospace Engineers

SpaceX launches satellites from California, Florida day after scrubs

New MachLab rocket test site launches UK into next phase of space engineering

Lunar soil shows promise for in-situ oxygen and fuel production

STELLAR CHEMISTRY
Skyfall Mars helicopter fleet to scout future astronaut landing sites

China Focus: Chinese scientist details first planned Mars sample-return mission Tianwen 3

Curiosity Rovers Boxwork Campaign Reaches New Heights on Mount Sharp

Brines may form from seasonal frost on Mars study finds

STELLAR CHEMISTRY
Six Chinese universities to launch new low altitude space major this fall

International deep space alliance launched in Hefei China

China launches international association to boost global access to deep space research

Chinese Long March Rockets Make International Debut at Paris Air Show

STELLAR CHEMISTRY
Surrey launches new Space Institute to drive mission-ready innovation and skills for UK space sector

Cascade raises 59M to develop full stack satellite communications platform

SpaceX launches 28 Starlink satellites days after service outage

AST SpaceMobile launches $500 million convertible note offering with share repurchase initiative

STELLAR CHEMISTRY
China issues new rules to elevate quality control in private space sector

York to Acquire Operations to Boost Ground Connectivity and Mission Delivery

Bearings Used in Space Technologies: Engineering for the Final Frontier

How to Master Terraria: Essential Tips from a Pro Player

STELLAR CHEMISTRY
Building blocks of life found in distant star system suggest origins in interstellar space

Diverse rocky planets found around nearby red dwarf including one in the habitable zone

Alien life clues may emerge from deep sea volcanic vents on Earth

One billion years of protein evolution reveals surprising design flexibility

STELLAR CHEMISTRY
JunoCam revived by onboard heat treatment just in time for Io flyby

Rare Trans Neptunian Object Reveals Unexpected Orbital Dance with Neptune

China eyes Neptune for groundbreaking ice giant mission

Fossil object 2023 KQ14 challenges Planet Nine theory with unique distant orbit

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.