G359.1-0.2

G359.1-0.2

Image of the Galactic Center of the Milky Way galaxy where G359.1-0.2 is located. Here can be seen there are many long threads which are similar in appearance to G359.1-0.2
Object type	Astronomical radio source
Other designations	G359.13142-0.20005, The snake, Galactic Center snake
Observation data (Epoch J2000)
Constellation	Sagittarius
Right ascension	14h 44m 19.244s
Declination	-29h 46m 52.96s
Distance	8 kpc
Notable features	One of the longest radio filaments
[edit on Wikidata]

G359.1-0.2 (short for G359.13142-0.20005), or more commonly known as the Galactic Center Snake or more simply known as The Snake, is a radio filament located in the Galactic Center of the Milky Way galaxy. It is one of the brightest radio filaments discovered and is also one of the longest at ~70 pc in length; however, it is thin, being just 0.4 parsecs in width.^[1]

It may have formed from a star trail intersecting a shock from a supernova remnant (SN) which preferentially travelled up the trail accelerating electrons producing radiation.^[2]

The snake is one of the longest radio filaments discovered so far but it is very thin, being about 0.4 parsecs wide. Running along it are two kinks, a major northern kink and a southern minor kink.^[1] The major kink is likely produced by a pulsar moving between 1,600,000–3,200,000 km/h (1,000,000–2,000,000 mph) through the filament.^[3]

It is linearly polarized over much of the filaments extent. The intrinsic magnetic field is also well aligned.^[4]

Located to the west of The Snake’s both major and minor kinks are two compact radio objects named G359.132-0.200 (a radio pulsar) and G359.120-0.265.^[1]