The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) telescope in Chile has captured the most detailed image to date of the center of the Milky Way galaxy, revealing a rich and previously obscured chemical composition, according to a report released Thursday, February 26, 2026, by Yemen Monitor.
The image covers a region spanning 650 light-years within the Central Molecular Zone (CMZ), described as one of the most extreme environments in the galaxy. Located approximately 28,000 light-years from Earth, the CMZ contains roughly 80% of the galaxy’s dense gas and a substantial reservoir of rotating stars.
The new data, collected as part of the ACES (Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array Central Molecular Zone Exploration Survey) project, allows scientists to study the complex processes occurring at the heart of our galaxy. Researchers identified a diverse range of molecules, from simple compounds like silicon monoxide to complex organic molecules including methanol, ethanol and acetone.
“We have observed a very rich chemical composition, including complex organic molecules containing carbon, the same element that forms the basis of life on Earth,” said Dr. Ashley Barnes, a co-investigator from the European Southern Observatory.
The discovery of this detailed chemical map builds on previous efforts to chart the Milky Way. In 2024, astronomers created the most detailed map of the Milky Way to date, utilizing 13 years of data collected by the Vista telescope, as reported by Arab Khabar.
A separate report from Yemen Monitor, published on February 26, 2026, highlighted the image’s unprecedented detail. The same date was also noted in a report by Nabd.com.
Recent astronomical discoveries also include the identification of a massive rotating structure in the universe, a vast filament of galaxies, gas, and dark matter, which may provide insights into the formation of the Milky Way, according to Yemen Monitor.
