A cloud of hydrogen gas is rushing into the Milky Way

Astronomers have reported that a giant cloud of hydrogen gas is accelerating and may collide with the Milky Way. Called ' Smith's Cloud ' ( Smith's Cloud ) can create a breathtaking scene of fireworks when hitting the galaxy in the next 20-40 million years.

Scientists believe that the cloud contains enough hydrogen to produce millions of stars like the sun. When it comes into full contact with our galaxy, the cloud can start the explosion of new stars formed in the Milky Way.

The work was published by a research team of the US National Radio Observatory (NRAO) and University of Wisconsin-Whitewater at the 211th meeting of the American Astronomical Community in Austin, Texas.

Spectacular views

The gas cloud was discovered in 1963 by a young American astronomer Gail Smith working at the University of Leiden in the Netherlands.She no longer works in science but still lives in the Netherlands.(Photo: BBC)

Smith's Cloud was named after an astronomer who discovered it in 1963. But even now, astronomers have yet to determine if it will collide with the Milky Way.

The new work uses the Green Bank telescope (GBT) located in West Virginia to observe this object and confirm that the ability to collide is real. The team's results showed that the cloud is 11,000 long and 2,500 light-years wide.

The fog wall is approaching our galaxy at 240 km / s and is expected to hit the Milky Way at a 45-degree angle.

In general, the cloud is rotating in comparison to the Milky Way, but also goes straight in that direction. Astronomers can observe a wall of gas being blown up when the cloud hits the edge of the Milky Way's atmosphere.

The main author of the work, Dr. Felix Lockman of NRAO, said that the object lying 40,000 light-years from Earth could create an impressive scene if observed with the naked eye. He told the BBC: 'We still do not know the origin of the cloud because of its chaotic trajectory but we know that it begins to contact the outer edge of the Milky Way, being pulled away and part of it is falling. However, it also received the gravity of the Milky Way and plunged into the flat surface at the same time. '

Before colliding with the galaxy, Smith's Cloud will touch an area not far from the solar system's location and about 90 degrees from the Earth on the flat surface of the Milky Way.

Consequences of the collision

When a collision occurs, the cloud will produce shock waves on the amount of gas available in the Milky Way. Lockman explains: 'Almost a bomb exploded, but there will be new gases born with properties different from the existing gas.'

Shock waves will cause an explosion of newly formed stars. These stars are gigantic, survive in a flash and eventually explode like a shooting star. According to Lockman, within a few million years, this phenomenon will look like a New Year's party in the universe with huge fireworks in the Milky Way.

The co-author, Dr. Robert Benjamin of Wisconsin-Whitewater University, interviewed the BBC: 'If the pulling force is sufficient and the cloud breaks, the consequences will be less serious. But in the present, it seems the cloud is very certain. '

Astronomers had predicted a region of bright stars called Gould's Belt near our Sun that could have been created this way.

Dr. Lockman said: 'This is the first time we can really observe this phenomenon. The Milky Way is suffering - many of its fragments appear. When this happens, it can bring new gases and form new stars. It is interesting to consider whether this event has ever happened near the sun. '

The gas cloud is approaching the Milky Way at 240 km / s.Astronomers have recorded many detailed images of the cloud.(Photo: Usatoday.com)