Andromeda
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Structure round the Sun

The Local Bubble

Also Local Hot Bubble · Local Cavity

Open in Ouranos

A cavity of hot, thin gas about 1,000 light years across that surrounds the Sun, carved by supernovae.

Measured

Distance
0 light-years
Size
about 1,080 light-years across (approximate)
Position (J2000)
RA 0h 00m 00s, Dec +0.00°

Facts

  • It is about 1,000 light years across, and the Sun lies near its middle.
  • It was carved by about 15 supernovae over the past 14 million years.
  • Nearly all star-forming clouds near the Sun lie on its surface.
  • The Sun entered it about 5 million years ago.

Where this comes from

  • Zucker et al. 2022, Nature (shell radius 165 ± 6 pc); centred on the Sun as an approximation

Every catalogue Ouranos draws is credited on the credits page.