The original stellar disk of the Milky Way finally identified 🔭

Published by Cédric,
Article author: Cédric DEPOND
Source: Nature Astronomy
Other Languages: FR, DE, ES, PT

Researchers have just shed light on an essential component of our Galaxy. A discovery that could transform our understanding of the Milky Way and its history.


Illustration image Pexels

New astronomical observation technologies are revealing the secrets of our Galaxy. A recent study offers an unprecedented interpretation of its formation, suggesting much older origins than previously thought.

The Milky Way, now majestic with its spiral arms, has not always looked this way. It evolved over billions of years, merging with other galaxies, thereby increasing its size and complexity. This dynamic has obscured the picture of its initial structure.

A group of researchers has recently identified an ancient component of the Milky Way, named the original galactic disk, or PanGu. By examining stars and analyzing their chemical composition, they were able to estimate their age, revealing relics from the earliest stages of our Galaxy's formation.

Each star carries the imprint of its history. Through its chemical composition, it is possible to determine the era of its birth. Older stars, formed just after the Big Bang, contain few heavy elements, while those formed later contain more. Thus, the researchers identified stars over 13 billion years old, attesting to the primitive era of the Milky Way.

The study of these stars challenges preexisting ideas about galactic evolution. The researchers estimate that PanGu would have a mass equivalent to 3.7 billion times that of the Sun, compared to several trillion times currently. This astonishing figure raises questions about how quickly the Milky Way reached its current size.

Previous theories suggested that massive galaxies formed gradually. However, the new discoveries suggest that our galaxy underwent rapid growth thanks to sustained star formation, revealing an unexpected complexity in the Galaxy's early days.

The implications of this discovery go beyond astronomy. If PanGu is confirmed, it could mean that the Milky Way emerged much earlier than previously thought, thus redefining our understanding of cosmic history. A new era of research is opening to better grasp the mysteries of our Galaxy.

At the crossroads of astrophysics and cosmology, this study offers a renewed perspective on the birth and evolution of the Milky Way. The findings could prompt researchers to reassess the timeline of galaxy formation and interaction.
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