Abstract
We have discovered a highly unusual radio source lying within 1° of the galactic centre whose 'cometary' morphology suggests that it is a wake produced by a radio source moving supersonically with respect to the ambient interstellar medium. Most galactic sources of nonthermal radio continuum radiation are supernova remnants, which retain a degree of spherical symmetry. Observations of high sensitivity and resolution from the Very Large Array (VLA) radio telescope in New Mexico have shown that within a few degrees of the galactic centre the sky harbours a number of unusual asymmetric structures, including narrow filaments1–3 and highly distorted supernova remnants4–7. Here we report the finding of a collimated axisymmetric nonthermal source.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Rent or buy this article
Get just this article for as long as you need it
$39.95
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
References
1. Yusef-Zadeh, R, Morris, M. & Chance, D. Nature 310, 557-561 (1984). 2. Morris, M. & Yusef-Zadeh, F. Astrophys. J. 90, 2511-2513 (1985). 3. Liszt, H. Astrophys. J. 293, L65-L67 (1985). 4. Shaver, P. A., Salter, C. J., Patnaik, A. R., van Gorkom, J. H. & Hunt, G. C. Nature 313, 113-115 (1985). 5. Becker, R. H. & Helfand, D. J. Nature 313, 115-118 (1985) 6. Helfand, D. J. & Becker, R. H. Nature 313, 118-119 (1985). 7. Caswell, J. L. et al Mon. Not. R. astr. Soc. 225, 329-334 (1985). 8. Birkhofi, G. & Zarantonello, E. H. Jets, Wakes and Cavities Ch. 8 (Academic, New York, 1957). 9. Downes, D., Goss, W. M., Scwartz, U. & Wouterloot, J. G. A. Astr. Astrophys. Suppl. 35, 1-22 (1984). 10. Reich, W. & Furst, E. Astr. Astrophys. Suppl 57, 165-167 (1984). 11. Wilson, A. S. & Ulvstad, J. S. Astrophys. J. 275, 8-14 (1983). 12. O'Dea, C. & Owen, F. Astrophys. J. 301, 841-859 (1986). 13. Weiler, K. W. in The Crab Nebula and Related Supernova Remnants (eds Kafatos, M. C. & Henry, R. B. C.) 265-285 (Cambridge University Press, 1985). 14. Fomalont, E. B., Geldzahler, B. J., Hjelming, R. M. & Wade, C. M. Astrophys. J. 275, 802-807 (1983). 15. Margon, B., Grandi, S. & Downes, R. A. Astrophys. J. 241, 306-315 (1980). 16. Gott, J. R. Astrophys. J. 173, 227-234 (1972). 17. Clark, D. H., Parkinson, J. H. & Caswell, J. L. Nature 254, 674-676 (1975). 18. Haynes, R. F. et al. Nature 324, 233-253 (1986).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Yusef-Zadeh, F., Bally, J. A non-thermal axially symmetric radio wake towards the galactic centre. Nature 330, 455–458 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1038/330455a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/330455a0
This article is cited by
-
Pulsar-Wind Nebulae and Magnetar Outflows: Observations at Radio, X-Ray, and Gamma-Ray Wavelengths
Space Science Reviews (2017)
-
A powerful bursting radio source towards the Galactic Centre
Nature (2005)
-
Pulsar nebulae
Astrophysics and Space Science (1992)
-
A filamentary radio source near the Galactic Centre
Nature (1991)
-
Unusual radio source MG1131+0456: a possible Einstein ring
Nature (1988)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.
