Previously, astrophysicists spent 30 years trying to predict how strong the slowdown was: now for the first time
Researchers analyzed Gaia Space Telescope observations of a large group of stars: the Hercules Stream, which is in resonance with a barred galaxy.
These stars are gravitationally attracted tojumper of the galaxy. The same phenomenon occurs with the Trojan and Greek asteroids of Jupiter, which revolve around Jupiter's Lagrange points. If the rotation of the bar (the bar of the galaxy) slows down, then the stars will begin to move further in the galaxy, maintaining their orbital period corresponding to the period of rotation of the bar.
The researchers found that the stars containheavy metals: This confirms that they were previously located in the center of the galaxy, where the star-forming gas is about 10 times richer in metals compared to the outer galaxy.
Using this data, the team concluded that the bridge of billions of stars and trillions of solar masses has slowed its rotation by at least 24% since its first formation.
Co-author Dr Ralph Schoenrich said astrophysicists had long suspected a slowing bar at the center of our galaxy, but evidence had only recently emerged.
Read more:
NASA first showed a rocket that will send astronauts to the moon
It's cool: how smart clothes work Under Armor Iso-Chill and what does titanium dioxide have to do with it
Specific symptoms of coronavirus in children named