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Milky Way's 'Snake': Stunning 230-Light-Year Cosmic Discovery

5/27/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Astronomers have unveiled a stunning discovery in the Milky Way: a 230-light-year-long filament dubbed "the Snake." This cosmic wonder was likely warped by a high-speed collision with a neutron star, or pulsar, traveling at an astonishing 1.6 to 3.2 million kilometers per hour, altering its magnetic field and disrupting its radio signals.

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Story summary

Astronomers have unveiled a stunning discovery in the Milky Way: a 230-light-year-long filament dubbed "the Snake." This cosmic wonder was likely warped by a high-speed collision with a neutron star, or pulsar, traveling at an astonishing 1.6 to 3.2 million kilometers per hour, altering its magnetic field and disrupting its radio signals.