Article

The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) has produced the largest image of the Milky Way's Central Molecular Zone (CMZ), mapping over 650 light-years. This dataset reveals a dense web of cold molecular gas critical for star formation near the galaxy's supermassive black hole.

The ALMA CMZ Exploration Survey (ACES) detected various molecules, including silicon monoxide and methanol. This research is expected to deepen understanding of star formation and gas dynamics in extreme environments, with the data serving as a community resource for further studies in astrophysics.