Gases in Milky Way tagged posts

Gases in Milky Way are Not Homogeneously Mixed, contrary to previous models

Surprise: the Milky Way is not homogeneous
Clouds and streams of cosmic pristine gas (magenta) accrete onto the Milky Way, but this gas does not efficiently mix in the Galactic disk, as highlighted for the Solar neighborhood (zoom-in). Credit: © Dr Mark A. Garlick

In order to better understand the history and evolution of the Milky Way, astronomers are studying the composition of the gases and metals that make up an important part of our galaxy. Three main elements stand out: the initial gas coming from outside our galaxy, the gas between the stars inside our galaxy—enriched with chemical elements –, and the dust created by the condensation of the metals present in this gas.

Until now, theoretical models assumed that these three elements were homogeneously mixed throughout the Milky Way and reached a level of chemical e...

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