Just 200 light-years from the Milky Way's supermassive black hole, a region called Sagittarius C has puzzled astronomers. Recent observations reveal unexpected phenomena in this extreme environment.
Thanks to the James Webb Space Telescope, an international team has studied Sagittarius C with unprecedented precision. Researchers discovered filaments of ionized gas, resembling spaghetti, threaded by intense magnetic fields. These structures could explain the slower-than-expected rate of star formation in this region.
Composite image of Sagittarius C showing ionized gas filaments in cyan.
Credit: The Astrophysical Journal.
Scientists, including John Bally from the University of Colorado, published their findings in
The Astrophysical Journal. They suggest that magnetic fields may prevent molecular clouds from collapsing, thereby limiting the birth of new stars. This discovery sheds light on the extreme conditions near the galactic center.
Samuel Crowe, a student at the University of Virginia and lead author of the study, highlights the uniqueness of Sagittarius C. Unlike other stellar nurseries, this region displays an unusual morphology shaped by magnetic fields. These observations provide insights into processes at work in the early Universe, under similar conditions.
Researchers also studied Sagittarius C's protostars, revealing how they disperse surrounding gas. Though common, this phenomenon takes on special significance in such an extreme environment. Webb's data helps better understand the life cycle of stars in the Milky Way.
Rubén Fedriani, co-author of the study, expressed surprise at the discovery of the filaments. These unexpected structures may be linked to interactions between magnetic fields and gas swirling around the central black hole. This interaction shapes Sagittarius C's unique environment.
Scientists estimate that Sagittarius C may soon stop producing stars. With remaining gas being dispersed by already-formed young stars, this stellar nursery could vanish in a few hundred thousand years.
How do magnetic fields influence star formation?
Magnetic fields play a crucial role in limiting star formation by preventing the gravitational collapse of molecular clouds. In regions like Sagittarius C, these fields are so intense they can slow or even halt star formation.
The filaments observed in Sagittarius C result from interactions between ionized gas and magnetic fields. By channeling gas, these structures may limit the amount of material available to form new stars.
This discovery helps explain why some regions of the Universe, despite seemingly favorable conditions, produce fewer stars than expected. Magnetic fields thus emerge as a key factor in galaxy evolution.