Unraveling the Mystery of the Haunting 'Ghost Stars' in the Milky Way's Center

Scientists have discovered a mysterious alignment of planetary nebulas in the galactic bulge at the center of the Milky Way. These clouds of gas, expelled by dying stars, are arranged in a parallel line almost perpendicular to the plane of the galaxy. The alignment is only present in planetary nebulas with a close stellar companion, suggesting that the rapid orbital motion of the companion star creates the alignment. This finding provides insight into the dynamics and evolution of the Milky Way's bulge region and the formation of close binary systems.