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Massive Ripple Discovered in Milky Way's Structure

11/5/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Astronomers discovered a giant ripple in the Milky Way, likely from a past encounter with the Sagittarius dwarf galaxy.
Researchers analyzed data from the Gaia spacecraft, focusing on 17,000 young giant stars and 3,400 Cepheid variable stars, revealing a wave-like pattern in their vertical motions.
This analysis indicates that the galaxy's disk is warped rather than flat.
The source of the ripple remains uncertain, with potential origins including the Sagittarius dwarf galaxy or the Radcliffe wave.
The findings are published in Astronomy & Astrophysics, and the team plans further investigation with upcoming Gaia data releases.

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Story summary

Astronomers discovered a giant ripple in the Milky Way, likely from a past encounter with the Sagittarius dwarf galaxy.
Researchers analyzed data from the Gaia spacecraft, focusing on 17,000 young giant stars and 3,400 Cepheid variable stars, revealing a wave-like pattern in their vertical motions.
This analysis indicates that the galaxy's disk is warped rather than flat.
The source of the ripple remains uncertain, with potential origins including the Sagittarius dwarf galaxy or the Radcliffe wave.
The findings are published in Astronomy & Astrophysics, and the team plans further investigation with upcoming Gaia data releases.