Scientists detect gamma-ray signal from small neighbouring galaxy

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2022-09-06 01:00

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The Fermi bubbles, including the cocoon substructure, and the Sgr dSph galaxy Credit: Crocker et al

A study by an international team of scientists has shed new light on the origins of a bright patch of gamma radiation toward the centre of our Milky Way. The study focused on the so-called Fermi bubbles, two globe-shaped structures initially discovered by the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope that span 50,000 light-years. Co-author of the study, Associate Professor Roland Crocker from The Australian National University (ANU) said that within these mysterious Fermi bubbles, there are regions which are particularly bright. “One of the brightest spots, the Fermi cocoon, is found in the southern bubble,” Associate Professor Crocker said. “Our study shows it’s actually coming from the Sagittarius dwarf galaxy."

Media release

From: The Australian National University

Journal/
conference: Nature Astronomy

Research:Paper

Organisation/s: The Australian National University, University of Canterbury, Swinburne University of Technology, The University of New South Wales, Western Sydney University

Funder: R.M.C. acknowledges support from the Australian Government through the Australian Research Council under award number DP190101258

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