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Astrophysicists Discover Mysterious 'Cosmic Contrail' in Distant Galaxy

10/12/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Astronomers identified a 'cosmic contrail' in NGC 3627, a spiral galaxy 31 million light-years away, measuring 20,000 by 650 light-years.
A massive black hole or a dense dwarf galaxy nucleus may create the trail moving at 186 miles per second.
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) observed the feature, revealing dust and gas.
Researchers say the black hole explanation is favored but unconfirmed.

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Story summary

Astronomers identified a 'cosmic contrail' in NGC 3627, a spiral galaxy 31 million light-years away, measuring 20,000 by 650 light-years.
A massive black hole or a dense dwarf galaxy nucleus may create the trail moving at 186 miles per second.
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) observed the feature, revealing dust and gas.
Researchers say the black hole explanation is favored but unconfirmed.