An international collaboration has successfully charted extensive regions of CO-dark molecular gas within Cygnus X, a vibrant star-forming segment of our Milky Way. Utilizing data from the National Science Foundation's Green Bank Telescope, the team produced unprecedented maps showcasing previously invisible material crucial to star birth. Cold molecular hydrogen gas, the essential component in by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Oct 24, 2025
An international collaboration has successfully charted extensive regions of CO-dark molecular gas within Cygnus X, a vibrant star-forming segment of our Milky Way. Utilizing data from the National Science Foundation's Green Bank Telescope, the team produced unprecedented maps showcasing previously invisible material crucial to star birth. Cold molecular hydrogen gas, the essential component in creating new stars, often eludes conventional telescopic detection due to its weak emissions. Traditionally, carbon monoxide signals have guided astronomers to molecular clouds, but substantial quantities of star-forming matter remain "dark" in CO images.
By tracing Carbon Radio Recombination Lines, scientists illuminated over 100 lunar-sized areas of dark molecular gas in Cygnus X, about 5,000 light-years from Earth. The mapping process exposed intricate networks of arcs and filaments where new stellar material accumulates, further confirming that low-frequency carbon signals offer vital insights into hidden galactic matter. The study reveals that these dark gases are dynamic, rapidly moving and interacting through turbulent flows, potentially influencing star formation rates. Additionally, the strength of these carbon lines corresponds with highly energetic starlight present in the region, emphasizing the influence of radiation in cycling matter within the galaxy.
Kimberly Emig, lead investigator at NRAO, stated, "It's like suddenly turning on the lights in a room and seeing all sorts of structures we never knew were there." Emig elaborated, "By making the invisible visible, we can finally track how raw material in our galaxy is transformed from simple atoms into the complex molecular structures that will one day become stars, planets, and possibly life. And this is just the beginning of understanding these previously unseen forces." The Green Bank Telescope's capabilities enable large-scale Carbon Radio Recombination Line surveys, with new projects underway to analyze star-forming regions across the Milky Way. These discoveries will aid astronomers worldwide in modeling the evolutionary processes of galaxies and star-forming clouds.
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Related Links
National Radio Astronomy Observatory
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