An unusual radio source exhibiting an axisymmetric, cometary morphology was recently reported by Yusef-Zadeh and Bally (1987) near the Galactic center. This source, G359.3–0.82, consists of a bright head containing a compact source followed by a tail exhibiting sinuous structure. Radio emission is highly polarized and has a nearly flat spectrum between λ6cm and λ20cm. Its location in the sky, spectrum, and lack of resemblance to any other extragalactic radio source suggested to us that this radio source is a Galactic object possibly lying near the Galactic center. New high-reslolution radio images obtained using the VLA confirm the remarkable morphology and strengthen the distinction between G359.3–0.82 and any known extragalactic radio source. The characteristics of G359.3–0.82 suggest that it may be a nonthermal radio wake produced by an object moving through the interstellar medium at a high relative velocity.
The Compact Nonthermal Radio Source at the Galactic Center: an Update
