Discover this unprecedented map of the magnetic heart of our galaxy

A team from Villanova University, funded by NASA, has recently unveiled an unprecedented view of the central area of our Milky Way, revealing the magnetic fields and structures of cold dust residing within.

At the core of our galaxy lies the Central Molecular Zone, a dense reservoir of dust reaching 60 million solar masses and displaying a temperature close to -432 degrees Fahrenheit (-258.2 degrees Celsius). This dust is crucial, as it forms the foundation of stars, planets, and, by extension, life as we know it. The interaction between magnetic fields and this dust is vital for understanding not only the Milky Way but other galaxies as well.


To unravel these mysteries, researchers used the SOFIA telescope, installed aboard a Boeing 747 flying at over 45,000 feet (about 13,700 meters). This project, named FIREPLACE, resulted in the creation of an infrared map detailing approximately 500 light-years at the center of our galaxy. This map reveals a complex interaction between the cold dust, visible in blue, and magnetic fields, indicated by filaments emitting radio waves in yellow.

This exploration has helped to detect variations in the orientation of magnetic fields across dust clouds, offering a first glimpse of their complex arrangement. This discovery marks a significant step forward, although researchers acknowledge that the road ahead remains long to fully decipher the mysteries of the Milky Way's heart.

The data collected raise new questions about how magnetic fields interact with dust on a large scale in the galaxy, offering clues about the potential link between magnetic fields observed at different scales. Researchers hope that this information will encourage theorists to propose new models to explain these complex dynamics.


The implications of this study extend beyond our mere understanding of the Milky Way, opening windows onto the fundamental processes governing the formation and evolution of galaxies.