G359.1-0.2
 Image of the Galactic Center of the Milky Way galaxy where G359.1-0.2 is located. Here can be seen there are many long threads which are similar in appearance to G359.1-0.2 | |
| Object type | Astronomical radio source  |
|---|---|
| Other designations | G359.13142-0.20005, G359.13, The snake, Galactic Center snake |
Observation data (Epoch J2000) | |
| Constellation | Sagittarius |
| 14h 44m 19.244s | |
| Declination | -29° 46' 52.96" |
| Distance | 8 kpc |
Notable features | One of the longest radio filaments |
G359.1-0.2 (short for G359.13142-0.20005), or more commonly known as "The Bone" or the Galactic Center Snake (or, more simply, The Snake), is a radio filament located in the Galactic Center of the Milky Way galaxy. It is one of the brightest radio filaments discovered and is also one of the longest at ~70 parsecs (230 ly) in length; however, it is thin, being just 0.4 parsecs (1.3 ly) in width.[1]
It may have formed from a star trail intersecting a shock from a supernova remnant (SN) which preferentially travelled up the trail accelerating electrons producing radiation.[2]
Morphology
[edit]The snake is one of the longest radio filaments discovered so far but it is very thin, being about 0.4 parsecs wide. Running along it are two kinks, a major northern kink and a southern minor kink.[1] The major kink is likely produced by a pulsar moving between 1,600,000–3,200,000 km/h (1,000,000–2,000,000 mph) through the filament.[3]
It is linearly polarized over much of the filaments extent. The intrinsic magnetic field is also well aligned.[4]
Environment
[edit]Located to the west of The Snake’s both major and minor kinks are two compact radio objects named G359.132-0.200 (a radio pulsar) and G359.120-0.265.[1]
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 Yusef-Zadeh, F; Zhao, Jun-Hui; Arendt, R; Wardle, M; Heinke, C O; Royster, M; Lang, C; Michail, J (2024-05-01). "G359.13142-0.20005: a steep spectrum radio pulsar candidate with an X-ray counterpart running into the Galactic Centre Snake (G359.1-0.2)". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 530 (1): 254–263. doi:10.1093/mnras/stae549. ISSN 0035-8711.
- ↑ Nicholls, Jennifer; Le Strange, E. T. (April 1995). "A Star Trail Model of the Galactic Center Snake". The Astrophysical Journal. 443: 638. Bibcode:1995ApJ...443..638N. doi:10.1086/175555. ISSN 0004-637X.
- ↑ Mata, Daniela (2025-05-05). "A speeding pulsar may have 'broken' this cosmic bone". Astronomy Magazine. Retrieved 2025-09-06.
- ↑ Freismuth, T. M.; Lang, C. C.; Yusef-Zadeh, F.; Goss, W. M. (May 2004). "The Structure of the Galactic Center Snake". American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #204. 204: 59.05. Bibcode:2004AAS...204.5905F.