G359.1-0.2

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
Right ascension	14h 44m 19.244s
Declination	-29° 46' 52.96"
Distance	8 kpc
Notable features	One of the longest radio filaments
[edit on Wikidata]

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.

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.

Morphology

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. 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.

It is linearly polarized over much of the filaments extent. The intrinsic magnetic field is also well aligned.

Environment

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.

References