A bizarre bubble-like structure named eROSITA attached to both sides of the galaxy containing Earth may not have a “monster” origin as previously thought, but rather the opposite.
According to Science Alert, data from the Suzaku satellite, co-operated by NASA and JAXA, has recorded a crucial point that could explain eROSITA, which has been recognized and puzzled over since 2020.
The eROSITA bubble is actually a pair of symmetrical, spherical bubbles that are hollow inside, much like bubbles themselves, nestled within the vast invisible gas shell of the galaxy containing Earth Milky Way, extending about 45,661 light-years on both sides of the central galactic disc.
The eROSITA bubbles resemble two ghostly yellow and orange figures “parasitizing” the central disc of the galaxy containing Earth – (Photo: Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics).
The energy-rich gas forming the bubbles is believed to have a fairly uniform, slightly elevated, and transparent temperature. New discoveries indicate that they are even more complex than that.
“Our goal is to understand the environment surrounding the galaxy, which is crucial for understanding how our galaxy formed and evolved,” said astronomer Anjali Gupta from Ohio State University.
Suzaku data shows that the X-ray light that Earth-based observatories detect from these bubbles is not because they are hotter than the surrounding environment but simply because this gas has a higher density.
By comparing with 230 X-ray observation data, they clarified how these bubbles formed, showing that they were not expelled from the jets of a supermassive black hole as previously thought.
On the contrary, they symbolize life: the star formation process. With this new hypothesis, it can be concluded that the center of the galaxy containing Earth is a region of extremely vigorous star formation despite the presence of a deadly supermassive black hole guarding it.
Inside eROSITA are smaller gas bubbles known as Fermi bubbles, discovered by NASA in 2010. This new study suggests that Fermi bubbles may have been created in a similar manner.
The study was recently published in the scientific journal Nature Astronomy.
