Astronomers have made a groundbreaking discovery, revealing a hot, low-density channel stretching from our solar system toward distant constellations. Using data from the eRosita instrument, researchers confirmed the presence of this plasma pathway, which appears to connect our neighborhood to star-forming regions.
The Local Hot Bubble, a region estimated to be 300 light years across, was formed by powerful stellar explosions called supernovas. This area is characterized by low-density, high-temperature gas, with temperatures varying north-south dichotomously at high latitudes. The eRosita mission aimed to chart hot gas in space and study supernova remnants.
By combining data from ROSAT and eRosita, scientists identified subtle signals of warm gas, dust cavities, and interstellar structures. This helped isolate the faint glow of surrounding plasma and revealed a channel stretching toward the Centaurus constellation. Similar pathways appear to link toward the vicinity of Canis Major, potentially forming part of a larger network.
This discovery confirms older theories about connected cavities in space and supports the notion that supernova events shaped a patchwork of interstellar matter. The Local Hot Bubble is an example of how dramatic events can sculpt gas into unexpected forms, highlighting the complexity of space even beyond our solar system.
The study’s findings suggest that the average thermal pressure in this bubble might be lower than expected, indicating it could be open in some directions. Further analysis and sensitive data are needed to understand these structures and their formation.
As technology advances, astronomers hope to fill in more of this cosmic map, explaining how these tunnels affect local cosmic rays, dust flow patterns, and stellar wind dynamics. The discovery of these hidden routes challenges old assumptions and adds complexity to our understanding of space between the Sun and nearest stars.
Source: https://www.earth.com/news/interstellar-tunnel-found-that-connects-our-solar-system-to-other-stars